20. August
20
T he cold shower did nothing to get my dirty mind from Harper and all the things I wanted to do knowing she was right downstairs.
Neither did coming here just to put some distance between us.
I slid a hand around my hard cock, picturing Harper. Her brown eyes looking up at me in that bedroom like she wanted me. It had to all be in my head.
It was Troy she wanted.
Stroking myself wasn’t going to be nearly as satisfying as touching her one more time. But I did it anyway. Standing under the spray, I pulled at it in long, hard strokes as I pictured her on her knees in here with me, my hand fisting her hair, guiding her. My breathing became shallow and I squeezed and pumped, feeling myself on the verge—until I heard something on the other side of the shower curtain. I shoved it aside, finding the girl in my fantasy standing in the steam-filled room.
Harper’s bottom lip dropped and her eyes washed down my wet body. My cock still hard as fuck. I knew when she reached it by the high pitch of her shriek before she covered her eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know anyone was in here.” With both hands still covering her eyes, she spun and barely took one step before hitting the edge of the door frame hard. “Ow.”
It was a muffled yelp and I jumped out of the shower. “Jesus Christ, Harper.” Grabbing a towel and throwing it around my waist, I stepped over to her. My hands covering hers as she held them tight around her eyes and nose.
“Harper, put your hands down.”
She only lifted them slightly to look at her palms. “Oh my God.”
When I saw the blood trickling down her nose and all over her hands, I pulled her over to the sink and reached for a washcloth. I ran cold water over it quickly and lifted her chin. Her eyes still shut tight.
“I can do it.”
“Hands. Down.” I cleaned her face and applied pressure with the cool cloth against the top of her nose.
She was stiff as a rock. “Relax. You’re fine. And I’m covered, for the most part, so you can open your eyes.”
Brown eyes landed on my damp chest, and she released a breath, her body slumping against me, then jerked with a small yelp.
I looked down at my terrycloth-covered cock, which was pointed toward her. “Sorry about that,” I whispered with a small chuckle, knowing her anxiety over certain male organs.
I had one hand around her jaw, holding her up and the other over her nose. Her long lashes fluttered against my palm.
Removing the washcloth, I eyed her nose and dropped it into the trash.
Harper looked up at me like she didn’t want to move. And I wondered if she had any clue as to which twin I was.
“Harper?”
“Yes.”
“I have to call attention to the fact that you’re not wearing any pants.”
She stepped back. “I just threw on my overcoat and stepped out for some air when the rain stopped. I actually forgot I wasn’t wearing any. But…” she looked at the towel around my waist, “I don’t feel so underdressed right now.”
“Come on.” I took her hand and led her out of the bathroom. “Sit down, keep your head up and no sudden movements for a few minutes, I think I can find you some pants here.” I checked the dresser drawers and found nothing but old blankets and hoodies.
“Do you think it’s broken?” Harper's voice was nasal as she pinched the top of her nose, staring at the ceiling.
“Let me see.”
I moved to stand over her and swiped a finger gently down to the tip. “Does that hurt?”
“No,” she breathed against my skin.
“Good.” My hand dipped down to her jaw and my thumb brushed her bottom lip like it had a mind of its own.
When she moved her chin to brush her lips against my fingers, I stepped closer and leaned down, kissing the bridge of her nose. “What about this?”
She grinned. “No.”
“Good. I have one more question.” I waited until her eyes met mine. “Were you hoping to find me here tonight?”
“Maybe.”
I smirked. "So earlier, when you said you didn't know anyone was in here…"
She batted her lashes. "I'd like to point out that you said one more question."
I chuckled. "Okay, we'll let that one go."
If only there was a way to ask if she knows.
She shouldn’t want to be with Troy. He didn’t deserve her. But I could. If I were honest with her. If I did this right, I could deserve her.
She blushed and moved her chin down, now eye level where my towel rested over my hips. “I lied. I saw your clothes on the bed.”
“Is that so?”
Just say it, Harper. Say my name.
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “What were you doing…in the shower when I walked in?”
A low grunt escaped. “Don’t ask me that.”
Cool fingers grazed my skin just above the towel before tugging at it.
I grasped her wrist and pulled her up from the bed. “Harper.”
“What were you doing?” she asked again.
I let go of her wrist and the towel fell to the floor. She tore her eyes from my gaze and looked down.
“Thinking of you,” I rasped out.
Her mouth opened and her fingers twitched slightly before softly brushing along the length. I held back a hiss but there was nothing I could do about my dick reacting. “I…interrupted?”
“Jesus Harp,” I always preferred her full name, but that one got away from me.
“I’ve been thinking about you too.” She continued to stroke me softly. Too soft.
I muttered a curse before my desperate lips crushed hers, kissing her with a silent plea that she knew who I was.
She had to know it was me. She’d seen my clothes on the bed, my glasses on the sink. I had my answer and I just had to believe it.
Please tell me you figured it out .
I lifted my brother’s shirt over her head and tossed it aside. “Don’t put that on ever again."
“What will I wear back to the house?” Her tone was playful. She had to know that it made me angry.
“Just your coat.” I pressed kisses along her shoulder as I pulled her white lace panties down. “Because I want these.”
She grinned and stepped out of them. “You can keep ‘em.” If I hadn’t known any better. I’d have thought she quoted me from that night at the bar when she stole my clothes.
Yanking the covers, I twisted her, sitting her on the edge of the bed, watching her for any sign of doubt. When finding nothing but lust and anticipation, I kissed her and moved her over the pillows.
Pulling my lips from hers, I took a moment to take her in. All I wanted was to make her feel good. To show her how sexy, amazing and worth it she was. And yes, I wanted so much to be inside her—but this was Harper. She’d never done this before. And making her feel worshiped was now on my do or die list. There was no denying I wanted to go all the way with this woman. And not just physically.
I’d known it from the moment she stepped into my apartment the night she opened herself up to me, giving herself to me in whichever way I’d have her. The moment she looked at me with eyes that trusted, rather than resented.
If I knew myself, I was probably going to fight this. But the more time I spent with Harper, the more pieces of my heart she stole.
No matter what this meant for me, Harper needed to know this wasn’t just another fuck. Without so many words, I was going to let her know that we were making love.
Her chest moved up and down as she watched me patiently for my next move. My eyes dropped to the white laced bra she still had on. My hand dipped under her to unclasp it before easing the straps down her arms. Hungrily, I ran my hand around the curve and drew one warm nipple into my mouth, swirling my tongue, tasting her again.
She arched into me, her fingers in my hair. A throaty moan made me move to the next one, licking and biting as I smoothed the other tight nipple with my fingertips, drawing out more whimpers.
Beneath me, Harper curved her body and I put a hand on her stomach. Her eyes flew open. “Can we skip all this?”
I looked up at her. “Absolutely not.” Drawing her legs apart, I brushed my thumb to feel her wetness.
“Not enough,” I whispered.
She fisted the sheets and exhaled, tossing her head back. “Do that again.”
I moved back up to her, my breath over her lips, my palms holding her down. “Will you calm down?”
Her mouth opened and she raised a brow. “Are you sure you’ve done this before?”
I chuckled. “I’m going to make you regret that one, baby.”
Sliding my tongue between her lips, I kissed her slowly, teasing her, which only backfired as desire rose in my chest. And my steel bulge pushed against her.
“I’m waiting.”
“I don’t plan on hurting you. We need to go slow.”
I moved my fingers back down to her thighs, ready to devour her with my mouth the way I had the other night if that was what it took to get her as wet as I needed her to be.
No matter what happened tonight, Harper was not getting hurt.
I drew circles over her clit with my thumb gently before applying pressure, feeling the slick heat multiply with every stroke. "Flounder."
"What?"
"That's what you'll say if you want to stop—at any point," I told her in no uncertain terms.
She giggled.
"I'm serious."
"Then you should have picked another word," she laughed again, her tension easing.
I slid two fingers into her, stretching her, silencing her. Harper being hurt was no laughing matter to me. I pumped, stroked, and rubbed her tight pussy until she was practically coming undone.
Harper wailed and writhed under me, begging me with her hips.
"That's it, baby. Come for me."
When she lifted off the bed with her mouth wide, I covered her lips with mine, swallowing her moans until her head fell back on the pillow.
"Oh my God." Her eyes fluttered open in a daze. "I'm ready, just—"
I shushed her. "Good girl. Now turn around and let me see that pretty ass." I was going to worship every inch of this woman.
When she smirked, I took it as permission and flipped her onto her stomach—nearly losing my senses when I took in the sight of her from behind. "Fuck, you're gorgeous." I roamed my hands over her round ass. She lifted slightly for me with a moan. "You want me to touch you?"
"Please."
I grazed my fingers down the center, finding her wet again. "That's my girl." I rubbed and teased, dipping my head and nipping at her soft flesh, making her whimper with need. "You think you're ready for me?"
"Yes, yes, I'm so ready." She rose her ass for good measure and I nearly lost it. I wasn't taking her this way. Not tonight. But fuck if my cock didn't have other plans for this position.
I reached into the dresser for a condom, then gently turned her onto her back. Her eyes on the foil square.
“No,” she urged before I could even tear the wrapper off. “I—I’m clean and…if you say you are, I’ll believe you.”
“You would?”
She nodded. "I trust you. I want to feel this. I want to feel you."
Fuck. This woman. I stroked her cheek. “I am." I flicked the wrapped condom off to the side somewhere, my eyes focused on hers as I positioned myself between her legs. Her chest rose and I felt her tighten beneath me.
"Harper, look at me."
Her brown eyes lifted.
"Are you sure you want this…with me?"
"More than anything."
"Then you have nothing to be afraid of. I won't hurt you."
Her muscles relaxed at my words. "I know."
I lifted her hand, kissing it softly, then smoothed the tip of my cock down her entrance, ensuring enough wetness before sliding in slowly. "Keep your eyes on me." I pushed past the tightness, watching every inch of her body’s reaction to me.
Her fists were tight around the sheets at her side, but since I'd prepared her, her walls were taking me in with ease.
Releasing a slow breath, I moved down to her, connecting our lips, smoothing my hand around her face. “Breathe, Angel,” I whispered against her skin, then put a hand against her chest until I felt it rise and fall at an even speed.
With her eyes closed, she inhaled and exhaled slowly, the tension easing in her core with each breath. Leaning down, I wrapped one arm around her, pulling her against my chest, while the other gripped her hip so that our bodies were flush.
If she was going to be in any pain, I needed to feel it. I couldn’t count on her telling me as much.
With controlled ease, she let me stretch into her, filling her. I stilled my movements, letting her body adjust to the intrusion.
A whimper made me freeze. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and opened her eyes. “So much better than okay.” She rocked her hips against mine, taking me in deeper. I groaned in response, knowing that any pain she felt was gone and there was nothing but pleasure.
I increased speed and force, thrusting into her slickness. She was taking me so good, digging her fingers into my skin, urging me, moving with me.
“Oh God,” she cried out, her choice of words frustrating me as I waited for her to scream my real name. “This feels so good.”
She squealed, pressing her lips together and turning her head to bite down on my palm.
“Scream, baby. No one can hear us here, I promise. I want to hear you scream.”
She cried out as I thrust harder into her. The intense rain thundering against the roof and windows of the tiny house.
“Fuck, Harper.” I almost lost myself inside her until I remembered that I wasn’t wearing a condom and pulled out, emptying myself onto a nearby shirt, groaning as my orgasm ripped through me. Tossing it aside, I hovered over the woman of my dreams, my hand at her cheek. "You good, baby?"
She nodded, reaching for me wordlessly.
I slid beside her and pulled her against my chest. I was going to need some confirmation soon that Harper knew who she had just given her virginity to.
But right now, I wanted to hold her, feel her warmth as she snuggled into me, our bodies naked and tranquil.
I knew it was selfish, but if this was all I was getting from her, I wanted the whole nine yards.
We fell asleep in the peace of our breathing. We didn’t need to speak. We were comfortable. Harper felt safe, content and every part of her told me this was where she wanted to be. She had no doubts.
And I wasn’t sure if I loved it yet.
Or if it made me angry.
But I knew one thing for sure. We needed to talk.
At dawn, I walked her to the back door of the main house, knowing everyone slept until at least nine and she would be more than safe walking to the bedroom unnoticed. “Do they still call this the walk of shame?”
I laughed. “There is nothing shameful about what we did last night.”
She leaned in. “No, there isn’t. Thank you for the sunrise. It was beautiful.”
“Try to get some sleep. Two rounds could do a number on a newbie.” I winked.
Part of me wanted to ask her at that moment if she knew. But if the answer wasn’t what I expected, and it all went to hell after, how could I get past hurting her?
Instead, I settled to let the conversation wait and brushed the hair from her face, leaning in for a long, sweet kiss.