16. Hayden
HAYDEN
The feelings rushing through my body are overwhelming. I catch my breath and try to put them in order, my last demand hovering above us like a black cloud.
“Talk to me.” Río says, his lips on my ear.
I inhale, a musky cedarwood lingering in my nose. Not without regret, I separate our bodies. “I’m not a silly groupie, wanting to sleep with any rock star.”
“Thank God.” He moves closer.
My hand shoots out to his pecs and stops him. Beneath my fingers, though, his heart beats faster than the fake drums he put together for Mila. “I’m not looking for sympathy.”
“Sympathy?” His mouth sounds around the word. “Hayden, if anything, you’ve got it all ass-backwards. You’re rich with the only thing that matters.” He addresses me head-on. “Love.”
“Love can’t pay the rent or tuition.”
“Money can’t buy love.”
Okay. He has a point. This gorgeous, hardworking, misunderstood man has shown how much he wants to be with me. He was wonderful with Mila. Mom’s words come back to me: Follow your heart, and everything else will sort itself out.
Does my heart want to be with Río?
Given all I’ve learned about him, I see how he isn’t the entitled drummer I believed him to be.
Río’s much more complicated. He earned his money playing drums and can spend it however he likes.
But having this freedom does not mean he is surrounded by the love I have in my life.
I can’t imagine living without Mila, who brings me unconditional joy.
Río’s had none of that. Except for his bandmates.
This isn’t in my job description. I shove thoughts about working for UC to the side. I need to show him what money can’t buy. “You’re right.”
His lips quirk. “Aren’t I always?”
He leans in and I don’t stop him. Our mouths greet one another like old friends—or new ones excited to get acquainted. This time, my tongue reaches out to his first, earning an elongated moan from him.
This sexy sound makes my brain short-circuit.
My core clenches.
I need this man.
My hands skim his chest. “Never said you weren’t cocky.”
“Stick with me, Babysitter. You’ll soon find out all about cocky.” He fists the hem of my shirt and brings it up my body.
Today I wore a pale blue lingerie set. “You’re turn,” I say, grasping his long-sleeved shirt.
I’m rewarded by the sight of his sculpted, naked torso. One he shows off to the world, but for this moment, belongs only to me. His defined abs call out for me to lick them, but I settle for tracing them with my fingers. They contract as I touch each muscle.
“Keep doing that, Babysitter, and you’ll soon be on your back.”
With him over me. Pushing into me. Sign me up! Keeping my wayward thoughts to myself, I reply, “Is that where you want me?”
Río steadies himself over me. “I want you next to me for a long, long time.” He blazes a line of kisses down my neck to my collarbone, which he licks. “Only if you’re up for that.”
“The question is,” I quip. “Are you?”
He doesn’t say a word, simply grabs my hand and puts it over the fly on his jeans. “What do you think?”
Beneath the zipper, his erection is unmistakable. For good measure, I give it a squeeze. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
He growls and unhooks my bra. “Pretty in blue. Prefer it on the floor, though.” He tosses the material in the air.
We’re back to the way we were last night.
Both naked from the waist up, with his mouth attached to my breast, my other nipple hard and begging for the same treatment.
I arch my back, giving him better access to the other one, which he takes at once.
With his free thumb, he strokes the other bud, sending jolts directly to my core.
“You’re beautiful, inside and out, Hayden.”
“So are you, Río.”
He huffs. “Not like you. You’re so pure, I can’t believe you’re letting me touch you this way.”
“Trust me, I’m not that pure. While I might never have started a riot in Rome, I’m not all rainbows and unicorns.”
He reaches down and unzips my pants, stripping them off my body together with my shoes and socks. “Such fantastical creatures never even dared cross the lawn in front of my home.”
His words make me sad. The little boy, who should’ve been showered in love, was neglected and used as a pawn. I cup his cheek. “Maybe they could move in now?”
He tosses his head backward and laughs. “I think I’m good.” His gaze travels along my almost-naked length. “You are so beautiful.” The next thing I know, he’s kissing my torso and running his tongue around my belly button, causing my hips to swivel.
“Río! That tickles!”
“Then I better do something not to make you laugh.” He rolls my blue panties down my limbs, and stares at me. “I can think of a few things.”
“Oh.” Without thought, my thighs clamp shut.
“Well.” He skims my legs with his fingers, spending extra time circling his thumbs behind my knees. With each touch, my legs separate a bit. When he removes his hands, I nearly cry out at the loss, and my legs open for him. “Looks like you’re ready for me now.”
“I might be.”
“Might? You’re not sure? What if I touched your folds right now? Would I find you wet for me?” His hand stalls in mid-air. “Or, I could lick you there. Is that your preference?”
My head thrashes against the pillows on the sofa. Either! Words don’t form. Instead, I let out a low groan.
Rather than entering me, he places his fingers in his mouth and I almost come on the spot. I want him. Now! However he wants me. “Río. Please.”
“Since you asked me so nicely, can I assume you’re leaving the choice up to me?”
I nod. My throbbing lower body bucks up toward him.
His fingers leave his mouth and enter me, causing me to cry out. “So ready for me.”
Finally, some relief. From a man who I thought was a child, only to realize the truth is more difficult to parse.
He never takes his gaze off me, moving within my body like he owns it. Unable to gain purchase, I grab onto my nipples and give them a squeeze.
He encourages me. “Yes, like that.”
While my fingers are busy, he’s pressing down on my G-spot, causing me to see stars. “Oh!”
“I’ve got you.” His mouth latches onto my right breast and he nips. This, combined with his magic fingers, makes me come undone.
I scream, “Yes!” He continues working inside my body, pumping, while I spiral out of control and float back down to earth. I rest on the sofa, drinking him in. “You’re pretty good at this.”
He removes his fingers, licking them—proving his bad boy status. “Only pretty good? I need to try harder.”
Try harder? As in he expects me to have another orgasm? “Uh, Río.”
He lowers his weight onto his hands, located at either side of my head. “Yes, Babysitter?”
How can I tell him this? “Well, I’m sort of a one-and-done type of woman. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to have sex with you, but don’t expect me to, uhm, you know, again.” Could this be any more mortifying?
He rubs his nose against mine. “Don’t you worry about that. I take it as a challenge.”
I gulp. A challenge? I don’t have time to object, however, as Río kisses me senseless. Our hands and tongues and—heaven help me—our naked torsos are all involved. His right hand trails down my body once more, cupping my hip.
Then he taps a beat on it, causing me to giggle.
He pulls up, his eyebrows dancing. “Seriously?”
I shrug. “You’re even a drummer in bed.”
His head moves from side to side. “We’re not in a bed.”
“Point taken.”
Following a couple more beats, he adjusts himself lower. Licking his lips, he says, “Be prepared to have your mind blown.” He kisses my sex the way our mouths were before.
Ohmygod, he’s right.
The orgasm that took over my body not five minutes ago reasserts itself. “Oh. What the—”
I can’t finish my sentence, as he laps against my clit in the most delicious manner.
He moves up one way and down the other, then spreads me open wide.
His fingers rap a drumroll as he brings me higher and higher.
My head slams against the throw pillow. A tidal wave starts at my toes, then rushes throughout my body, and I scream in completion.
He sits on his haunches. “Two.”
I’m boneless. Like a cat, I’ve melded with the sofa and have no ability to move. Río, however, seems energized. Sitting upright, he kicks off his shoes and socks. Then he stands and removes his jeans. When he turns, his erection points at me beneath his black boxer briefs. It’s … impressive.
His hands go to his waistband. “Do you want me to take these off?”
“They look constricting.”
He chuckles. “Especially right now.” I follow as the waistband moves beneath his fingers.
I swallow. This is the first time I’ve been with a guy this comfortable in his skin. Lights off, sheets over us, missionary—that’s more my style. This type of man, proud and ready for anything, is out of my experience. I sink into the cushions.
“Babysitter, I only want to do this if you want it too.” He sits next to me, underwear still on. “If you’re happy with your two orgasms, I’m happy. No pressure from me.”
“You don’t want to?”
“Really?” He points to his lap. “I find you fascinating. The love between you and Mila is so raw, so real. Your sister is so sweet.”
The way he’s talking about Mila warms my heart. I sit up. “She is amazing.”
“You’ve got me under your spell.” He cups my cheek, his thumb stroking it. “I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
My eyes close. “Me neither.”
Río stands, then dips down to pick me up. “The things I want to do with you require a larger platform.” He walks toward the bedroom. “Guess we are going to be using this hotel room in the tawdry way you said.”
“I’ve changed my mind. I think we’re using it in the exact perfect way.”
“Right answer, Babysitter.” We’re kissing as he deposits me onto the king-size bed, strips off his boxer briefs, and joins me. “What spell have you cast over me?”
“I can say the same thing.” I’ve been working on UC’s PR for well over a year, and my preconceived notions about him have done a one-eighty. He laves my nipple and all my thoughts scatter.
“I want you to feel good.” He transfers his attention to my other nipple.
I run my fingers through his hair. “You already have. Twice.”
He chuckles. “We’re not nearly through.”
Río’s made me experience things I’ve never felt before.
The urge to make him feel the same way overtakes me.
My hands slide down his body, exploring the many cuts of his muscles, until I reach my prize.
I rub my thumb over his tip, spreading the precum over it. “I can tell you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Not nearly as much as we both will.”
Using both hands, I squeeze. His eyes close and he throws his head backward, letting out a long groan. Encouraged, I trace the vein that’s popped out. He sucks in his breath. “Painful?”
“The opposite. Very much the opposite.”
“How about now?” I lean forward and lick all around his engorged shaft, ending by sucking hard.
“You’re good at this.”
Spurred on by his praise rather than my experience, my cheeks hollow as I suck him deeper. I’ve never been with a guy this big before. It’s thrilling.
“Enough,” Río pronounces. “I’m not going to blow in your mouth when I have this delicious pussy waiting for me.”
With my lips still firmly in place, I glance up at his brown eyes. They’re half-closed. I suck him tightly once more. “Are you sure?”
“You’ve gotten me so turned on, I don’t even know my own name right now,” he rumbles.
“The only thing I do know is I need to get inside you. Now.” He pushes me away from his body, arranging me so I’m on all fours.
A condom packet rips, and I hear him toss it aside as he rolls it over his massive erection.
My body is excited and scared all at once. I shove my doubts aside, and trust Río will make this good for both of us. I toss my head. “Please.”
“I promise to make this amazing.” The tip of him makes contact with my entrance, and I tense. “Trust me.”
Something in his plea lodges deep inside my soul, and my muscles relax. For the first time, I give myself permission to feel everything with this man. “I do.”
Río holds onto my hips and pushes his way into me with careful deliberation. With every inch he moves, he waits until I accept him. Then he pushes a bit more. And more. Before I know it, he’s seated deep within me. “OH!”
“That’s it,” he encourages me. “You’re tight all around me. So good.”
He’s lodged inside, and the sensation is one of fullness. My body welcomes him. Surrounds him. “This is nice.”
“Nice?” He kisses the center of my back. “Let’s see if I can upgrade your description.”
He pulls out about halfway, then rushes forward, sending sparks throughout my body. “Whoa.”
“Better.” He repeats his movements, slowly at first, with increasing force. He pulls back on my hips as his body surges to meet mine.
The sparks multiply.
Soon, my breasts swing with the force of his thrusts.
I claw at the bedding, trying to keep my balance.
A tingling begins in my toes and engulfs my entire body.
Río’s hands caress my breasts. He kisses me with more erotic passion than before.
Sweat pours from his torso onto mine. With a final pluck of my nipple, I scream as another climax rips through me.
An unheard of third time.
He keeps pounding into my body for a few more thrusts, then freezes and lets out a roar. He empties himself into me, then collapses on top of my back. I welcome his weight. It only proves this amazing coupling happened.
Sometime later, he pulls out of me and mumbles something about taking care of the condom.
He disappears and I flip over, the back of my hand landing on my forehead.
Río’s ruined me for all other men. Well, he’s certainly made those who came before even more forgettable.
I allow myself another moment of bliss before sitting up.
He’s had his fun. It doesn’t mean anything.
Standing, I’m checking my phone when Río strides back into the bedroom. He asks, “What are you doing?”
I glance at him. “Jet’s ready. Looks like we have ten minutes to return to reality.”
Although mine’s permanently been altered by UC’s drummer.