Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“I still feel like you’re the most intriguing woman but getting to know you I also realize you have a sadness that hangs around in you like a dark cloud. You hide it well, but if someone listens—really listens—they’ll pick up on it.”
She smiled but it felt plastic even to her. “I’ve carried a lot of demons for a lot of years. I feel like you might be the only one who understands me.”
“For a while I was afraid that you and I might be bonded by our difficult pasts, but there’s more. You’re about the only one who I think I could tell my secrets to and you wouldn’t judge me.”
“Does that mean you’ll tell me everything?”
“In good time. I promise.”
They moved along the sidewalk and when they reached his truck, he opened the passenger door and she climbed in.
The drive to the farmhouse was quick so neither said anything. She’d been preoccupied with her thoughts. He seemed to be also. He slid out and came around to open her door.
For the first time in a long time, she knew clearly what she wanted.
“Come inside. I want you with me tonight,” she said brazenly.
“Is that really what you want?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“What about your aunt and Phoebe?”
“Pedora is in Petersburg and Phoebe left. We’re alone.”
She grabbed her purse and exited the truck.
When her feet hit the ground, she felt a little unsteady.
She hurried along the sidewalk to the house.
His footsteps thudded behind her. By the time she was inside, she had to catch her breath.
Knowing what they were about to share made her a ball of excitement.
She set her purse on the table and Bear remained near the closed door.
“Have you changed your mind?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No.”
“Come.” She slid off her shoes and made her way into the kitchen.
The kitten snaked his way around her ankles. She poured some food into a small plate. He still ate like he couldn’t get enough.
“You name him yet?” Bear leaned a shoulder against the doorframe.
“I think so. Sammich.”
“Sammich?” he chuckled.
[2]
“That’s because he likes to steal my sandwiches when I’m not looking.” She gave Sammich a scratch behind the ears. “I believe he likes the name.”
Bear leaned against the counter near her. He folded his arms over his chest and his biceps looked like they could burst the seams of the t-shirt sleeves.
Her gaze automatically fell to the quarter size intricate moon on his wrist covered in protective gel.
It wasn’t big by any means, but the meaning was huge.
The sun on her own wrist caught her attention.
It was a promise to herself that there were brighter days ahead.
She was tired of lugging around the past like a stained, dirty mirror that she had to look through every day.
The pelting of the rain against the tin roof, which had always been one of her favorite sounds, was the only because neither of them were speaking. She wondered if he was second guessing things. He was so quiet.
Then his gaze was on her. Brooding. Pensive. There was energy between them, reminding her of a train coming closer, the tracks vibrating in warning.
He took a step, pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked at him right in the eye, feeling the strong connection between them.
He lowered his mouth to hers, his tongue sliding in and staking claim.
The heat from their bodies made her pulse quicken and at some point, she couldn’t tell if she heard the rhythmic patter of the rain or the beating of her heart.
She had no idea how much she’d been hiding the draw between them, how she’d denied herself the pure pleasure he could offer.
She couldn’t find one iota of rejection or reason to reject him.
Bear lifted her and carried her to the couch, laying her down with a gentleness she wasn’t expecting.
As he lay down too his body pressed against hers.
She found the hem of his shirt pulling it over his head and discarding it to the floor.
Aasia needed to feel his bare skin. She needed to explore him.
She planted kisses on his chest, over his taut skin, flicking her nails against his flat nipples. He sucked in a tight breath and pulled back slightly. “What?” she looked up at him.
“Wait a moment.”
Dropping her head against the throw pillow with the words “Home Sweet Farm” embroidered on the front, she stared up at him in disbelief. “Wait? For what?”
“I’m going to explode before we even get started. That would be a knock to the ego.” His gaze spoke of genuine concern.
She smiled. “I like having that much power.”
“I bet you do.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Hang on a second.” He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and a small foil packet. He placed it on the coffee table.
She appreciated his preparation.
He helped her out of her shirt and his gaze lingered on her red lacey bra.
Although it probably wouldn’t stay on long, she was grateful she had enough forethought to wear her best matching bra and panties, and to have shaved…
everything. She doubted a little stubble would disgust him, but she wanted her skin to be smooth when he ran his hands down her legs.
His kiss erased her thoughts. His lips were scorching against her mouth and skin, stealing any worries.
He tasted like an intoxicating combination of honey and apples. She opened her mouth wider, allowing his tongue to sweep in and stroke her. The cowboy could kiss. The best she’d ever had. She never knew she could almost be satisfied with just kissing—almost.
His hands sunk into her hair, tightening his fingers around the strands, gently pulling the mass.
He used it as leverage to tilt her face so he could deepen the kiss.
She slid her fingers along his warm torso to the waist of his jeans, skimming her fingers along the worn leather of his belt, searching blindly for the snap and buttons.
She tugged and pulled clumsily. She’d never been more determined and excited to get a man out of his pants. He helped and soon his zipper was down.
He unhooked her bra, quickly ridding her of the rest of her clothing. Yeah, she knew they wouldn’t stay on long but at least they looked good against the dark planked floor.
“Let’s take this to your bedroom,” he said in a hitched voice.
“Upstairs.” She started to move but he was quicker.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs without breaking a sweat or breathing any different.
“Which door?” he said in a low rumble.
“Here.” She pointed to the closed door to the right.
He bent her just enough so that she could turn the knob and push the door open.
The moonlight flowed in through the open slats of the blind, giving them just the right amount of lighting.
Not too much so things would be awkward, but just enough so that she could watch him slide his jeans and boxers down his long, muscular legs.
With his back to the only source of lighting, she couldn’t see his expression, but she could feel the powerful energy in his movements as he lowered himself to the bed, situating his hips between her legs. His thick erection made her gasp in surprise.
She could feel his stare when he asked, “Are you okay?”
“It’s been…awhile” she said on an exhale of breath. “I just wanted you to know. In case…well, it’s not how you imagined. I don’t know if it’s like riding a bike like people say. Bentley and I—”
He stopped her words with a quick kiss. “Let’s not bring him into this, okay?”
“Sorry. Nerves.” She lowered her gaze.
He pressed his knuckles against her chin, lifting her head so she’d look at him. “No reason to apologize. He’s the past and I’m the present. Don’t worry. I could never be disappointed.”
“I guess I have a tendency to overshare—”
He ended her words again with another kiss. “I love when you talk. Are you nervous?” He moved his lips to her neck, kissing the gentle slope.
Her eyes fell shut and she arched against him. Her neck being kissed was her kryptonite.
He was in no hurry although she felt like she might combust. He just continued to lick and kiss, every inch of her until she became a gelatinous glop.
His fingers glided across her seam, and she gave a jerk in both excitement and surprise that she could be so sensitive.
The desire filled her with a need she’d never known, not until Bear. Not ever with Bentley.
Lifting her head, she gave him a slow, meaningful kiss while he slipped two fingers inside her. She lifted her hips, crying into the shadows, her moans a fervent plea for him to offer her more pleasure.
He reached for the condom packet, opened it and rolled it onto himself. He was ready, but he still didn’t enter her. Instead, he rotated the tip of his thumb over her swollen clit. Her groan was swallowed by the booming of thunder that rattled the windows.
Bear continued to work his fingers over her, taking her to the edge of the cliff, and then he pressed himself against her. “Ready?” he asked.
“More than ready.”
He slipped inside of her. Having him fill her sent a sensation spiraling through her so intensely, so wild, she had to bury her teeth against his shoulder to keep from scaring the neighbors from her screams.
Throwing her head back into the pillow, she lifted her hips, meeting his every thrust. Their bodies met and converged. Her toes curled and she cried out in an eager moan.
Bear lifted himself out of her, to the very tip of his swollen head, then slowly eased himself deeper, cuffed by her slick passage.
He did this several times, pulling out to the tip then sliding deep, sending her into a pleasure filled abyss.
When he filled her again, he nearly lifted her off the bed. His moan vibrated her insides.
Pulling her knees up high on his chest, the slight change of position gave the joining of their bodies a new meaning. His movements became tenser—greedier.
“Aasia?” Her name fell off his lips but it carried a weight with it. A message embedded in each syllable.
She looked up at him. “Yes?”
“This. You. It’s all so fucking good. Too fucking good. I can’t make it last.”
Before she could assure him that they had all night, he pulled himself completely from her. The sudden void made her sigh in disappointment. He didn’t move far though, only enough so he could slide his hand between their bodies and rub her clit. He was good at taking her right back to that edge.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close, feeling each strand of control fraying and breaking. He drank in her moans and pants with his heated kiss. Trembles started at her toes and slowly built-up momentum, cutting through her like crashing waves.
Their mouths met and he tasted her moans of release.
She was still spasming when he drove back inside of her, sipping her last bit of whimper.
He slid his hands under her shoulders and lifted her as he sat back, and she straddled his lap, taking him deeply within.
She took control of the moves, lifting her bottom then slowly sliding over him.
She kept her eyes open, watching him, every expression on his face—steel met softness.
He was a beautiful man, all muscular angles and planes.
His arms flexed as she bounced over him, rolling her hips, gyrating.
Their gazes met and she felt a tug in her chest.
She couldn’t deny that she had feelings for him.
He pulled away to kiss her cheeks, her chin, creating a path down her neck and licking the hollow between her collarbones.
She wasn’t expecting the sudden jolt that gripped her body. Aasia didn’t expect to have yet another orgasm, but it came swiftly.
He lifted her and in one fluid motion they both fell back onto the mattress, and he settled on top again, entering her all the way to the hilt, this time with intention.
She felt him tense and he gave a shudder. “Fuck!” he groaned against her hair as he arched his back. He kissed her, one so full of power that she couldn’t describe.
A tremor pulsed through as he pulled out, then he dropped onto his back pulling her along with him. She cuddled in the crook of his shoulder.
He kissed the top of her head. A softer, sweeter, kiss that was so compelling she could only sigh to show him her satisfaction.
There was sex and then there was SEX. She’d just been sexed in a way that left her branded.