Chapter 20
SUMMER
“Roman only left one cookie for the elves tonight.” The bedroom is darker than I expected, but enough light trails from the bathroom door being cracked open that I have a clear view of Daniel in bed. It’s a great way to be greeted. “I got it for you.”
His chuckle reaches my ears before my eyes fully adjust. “His teeth are going to rot from eating cookies before bed.”
“We only thought it would be a few nights.” I set the cookie on the nightstand and slip my robe off, hanging it on the hook by the bathroom.
Dressed in a thin cotton pajama set, I hip bump his legs to get him to scooch over on the bed.
“Not all summer.” I really like having him here.
I love the excitement that bubbles up inside me as I get closer to the bedroom, knowing he’s waiting for me.
“We could make something else up, if you want. Something that won’t give him cavities and the sweetest of dreams.”
Leaning against the headboard, he reaches over and rubs my hip. “Have we overstayed our welcome?” His voice is quieter than usual, even when we talk at night. I brush hair away from his forehead and reveal a tempered smile. It’s there, but boy, does it need inflation.
“No. In fact, I’ve heard the opposite from everyone. They want you to stay, but don’t know what you’ll do since the cottage isn’t getting fixed.”
“What happened to the local guys and your second cousin once removed?”
That he even remembers that is hilarious. He’s becoming a regular old townie at this point. “Twice removed, and Mrs. Dover called them off since she’s selling.”
“But if you’re buying, it still needs to get fixed. So let’s get it fixed.”
“It’s not a done deal just because we offer more money. She mentioned contingencies—”
“Then don’t put any contingencies,” he snaps, sitting higher on the bed. Away from me? “And close the deal.”
Standing up, I give him the space he so clearly desires, but I can’t stop staring at him. I look back at the door and then walk out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I wait.
“Summer? Come back in,” he says from the other side.
We all have off days. The day with him was great. He’s just having a moment. I knock this time even though it’s my own bedroom, giving us a redo. He says, “Come in.” The response is much lighter this time around.
When I open the door, the lamp is on, and his mouth is full. Only crumbs remain on the nightstand while he chews. Pressing my back to the closed door, I lock it and bite the inside of my lip to keep from smiling. “Hi, I saw your light on, so I thought I’d stop in.”
“Glad you did,” he says when he finally speaks.
So handsome—the light shining in his eyes is a beacon calling me to him—waiting for me like his night just got better with a smirk that wasn’t there earlier. When I approach the bed, he shifts to the side this time, giving me ample room to make myself comfortable next to him.
I climb on the bed, but I don’t sit next to him.
I crawl on my knees and straddle his lap.
I’d love to adjust, but I just want to kiss his upset away so badly that I cup his face.
Tilting his head back, I lean in and kiss him.
Our lips mold together like a confession whispered from my soul to his is exchanged in the connection.
The feel of him hardening under me inspires me to rock into a better position. Large hands take hold of my ass and give a good squeeze. We’re already breaking new ground, crossing lines we haven’t before. The feel of him is both familiar and new, spun into the burning desire I have for him.
I roll my hips on top of him. The hardness feels so good against my clit that I do it again. And again, until I slide my hands to his neck, resting my head against his, closing my eyes as I try to calm my racing heart.
Running a hand over my shoulder, then caressing my jaw, he whispers against my cheek, “We can’t do this here.”
I lean back, still holding on to him. Sliding my hands to his shoulders, I search his eyes for the answer that doesn’t seem to be obvious to me. “Why?”
“Listen.” My breath is heavier than I’d like, so I hold it and turn an ear toward the door.
The sound of Jeopardy, the tick of the clock at the base of the stairs, the creak of the floors, and a good night exchanged between two of my sisters.
Every sound is so prevalent and louder than it should be.
I haven’t paid attention to the noise in years. With this many people living together, it’s just always how it’s been. “I don’t even hear it anymore.”
“I can’t stop listening to every sound that slips under the door. I kiss you. Someone laughs. I slide my hand over your body, and the theme song to Golden Girls kicks in. I made you come, and someone dropped something heavy in the kitchen. There’s no privacy.”
He’s not wrong, and that throws cold water on the embers we were breathing fire into. Sitting back, I lose the energy to sit straight, so I slump and ask, “You don’t want to do anything?”
After pushing forward, he slides a finger over the outline of my lips, then follows with the softest kiss. “I want to do everything to you, but not here. I only want to hear you when we’re together, especially the first time.”
The sexual attraction has been there all along. Daniel made me feel so good in the tub. It was incredible, but it doesn’t change the growing need I have for him or to give him the same pleasure he gave me. Regulating my reactions isn’t something I want to do.
But giving is better than receiving, so I slip the little top off over my head and let it fall to the floor beside the bed.
Those brown eyes that hold the light inside even when it’s darker in here drift down my body.
His hands follow until he’s cupping my breasts like he held my face—with favor and adoration.
Reaching around me, he grabs my ass again and pulls me toward him in one swift tug.
We kiss, and when his hands slip up my front to my breasts, he kneads them like I’m precious.
The pressure firms, and when the tip of his thumb rolls over my nipple, shock waves shoot straight to my center.
My body clenches in response as a craving is awakened.
It would be so easy to lose myself and melt into his kisses.
I don’t. I prop up on my knees, still kissing him with a building fervor when our tongues tangle together.
And then I slip off to the side of his legs to station myself beside him, our mouths never losing contact.
I scrape my nails down his chest, momentarily distracted while running them through the hair on his chest twice before moving my hand lower and dipping under the waistband of his boxer briefs. A heavy but restrained hum greets me when I slide my hand over his length.
His eyes are locked onto mine like he’ll miss something if he blinks. With my fingers wrapped around his erection, my own desires magnify, making me wish his hand was touching me. As much as I want that, I want this to be about him more.
Angling toward him, I push the covers down his legs and start pulling the waistband down. He lifts enough for me to free his cock. He doesn’t hide or shy away. He runs his hand up my spine, hovering at the back of my neck. “I want to be in your mouth, Sunshine. Will you do that for me?”
That husky voice of his about does me in. I squeeze my thighs together as I station my hand at the base of his length, holding it up ready for me. He’s smooth and so large that I analyze angles before bending forward. I lick my lips and take the head of his cock into my mouth.
It only takes that contact for his head to snap back, digging into the padded headboard. Mouth open. Eyes closed. That earlier hum now caught in his throat.
I swirl my tongue under the cap and then cover more of him by sliding down inch by inch until my lips meet the top of my hand.
I breathe through my nose and relax my throat, going deeper as my mouth follows my fingers.
Tightening my lips and hollowing my mouth, I suck as I slide to the end again.
His hand at the back of my head only encourages me to go deeper.
Catching a breath, I slide him back into my mouth. This time, I don’t go slow because I want this man to fall apart for me like I did for him. Bobbing, I push my limits, eliciting a moan from deep in his chest. “Feels so fucking good, babe. Don’t stop, okay?”
He’s steel and smooth as I use my tongue along the top of his cock. His low praises send goose bumps down my back. Powerful. My confidence explodes as I bring him to his knees. Invincible.
Adjusting my position, I ease my throat. He thrusts experimentally, and we find our rhythm together. “You’re taking me so deep, Sunshine. Just like that.”
Pulling my hair together in his fist, he moves to the side, and I peek up at him.
His eyes are hooded, his mouth slightly open as he sucks in a breath and bucks his hips.
He’s never been more attractive. More . .
. mine. My core clenches, aching for him in the ways I hoped we would connect tonight.
But this is so good. “That’s it. You’re doing so well for me.
You’re taking my cock like you can’t live without it.
” His breathing is erratic, chest pumping for air as much as his hips thrust for me. “Good fucking girl. Relax for me.”
His ab muscles tighten under my touch as an orgasm starts ripping through him, the current too strong for him to pull back. Grinding his mouth shut, he chases his release before it escapes.
I suck harder each time I slide up his length until he starts losing the control he’s holding tight to. “I can’t stop . . . Come so hard . . .” The words are as ragged as his body as he fucks my mouth like he’d fuck me.
I’m so wet, and the tingling is becoming too much. I push it aside, but the raw desire I have for him consumes my thoughts, and my body reacts instead. Fingers dig through my hair, pulling as he pushes, meeting me for every thrust.
His hand dives into my shorts, taking no prisoners.
When his fingers slip through the yearning I have for him, I lose my control and bob harder just as he pinches my clit.
My body releases as if he’d demanded it.
My name rolls off his tongue in a chant or a prayer, I’m not sure.
My senses are so overwhelmed that up becomes down and left turns right, leaving me to spin in the ecstasy.
But with him deep inside my mouth, I swallow, my throat embracing him until his gifts run dry and he pulls out. Dragging me into his arms like I’m a rag doll. I am devoid of energy to think, much less function with any physical competency.
Curled on top of him, I close my eyes, my jaw hurting, and lying in the aftermath of our pleasure. My breathing is as uneven as his and not stabilizing anytime soon.
His fingers pull my chin up. My eyes follow, meeting his again. His lids are lower, dragged down from what we just did. He says, “Do you know how incredible you are?”
“No. Tell me,” I joke.
“You’re fucking amazing.”
I’m grinning, but laughing takes more effort than I’m capable, so I hum like he did earlier. Putting my head on his shoulder, I whisper, “You’re so amazing.”
Stroking my hair over my shoulder, he says, “You know what surprises me?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m surprised that I lasted as long as I did. That was so good, Sunshine.”
I feel the pride he’s instilled in me by finally lifting my hand anchored to the mattress and seeing the smile that looks like it’s going to be there a while. I say, “You know what surprises me?”
“What?”
I laugh. “That you know the theme song to Golden Girls.”
“Lots of time stuck in hotel rooms with no streaming.” He chuckles, then rolls me onto my back, hovering over me. “But do you want to know what really surprises me?”
Running a finger from his temple to his jawline, I say, “Tell me.”
He’s above me, looking as smug as a thief who got away with the crown jewels with that smirk on his face. “That you could keep from screaming my name.”
“That was a miracle.” I laugh too hard to keep quiet any longer. “Trust me, though. When we’re together for the first time, you’d better take me somewhere else because I won’t hold back.”
“I’ll take you to the moon and back, babe.”
I grin because I believe he will if he can. “The cottage also works.” Staring into those mesmerizing eyes of his, I add, “Or your fancy place in the city.”
Pushing my hair back from my cheeks, he kisses my neck and trails higher to my ear to whisper, “How about both?”
His sweet attentions have me closing my eyes and floating in the dream of us together like this more than tonight.
“You got yourself a deal, hockey player.” Opening my eyes, I’m met with a sea of serenity seen in his.
My heart squeezes, so I tighten my hold around him.
I kiss him, wanting to hold on to this—the quiet and calm, the peace and tranquility—found in my arms.
This time, when our lips part and our breathing evens, I kiss his cheek, and whisper, “You can tell me anything, Daniel.”
The rough of his scruff grazes across my cheek when he turns to look at me again. He doesn’t say anything, but I see the tug-of-war in his eyes. Caressing his face, I say, “I want you to talk to me.” Our eyes are as connected as our bodies. “Will you tell me why you were upset earlier?”