Chapter 16
Is this the place?I thought.
I looked up at the building. Six floors high, the apartments at the top would have one hell of a view of the lake.
I pushed open my car door and inhaled the fresh air. Even hidden by rows of houses, the lake was enticing.
Okay, not on an early winters day, but in the middle of summer it would be amazing. Busy, but amazing. What would it be like to wake up and look out the window at that every morning?
I sighed. There was no point trying to guess. It would never be my life.
Bam made it clear he wasnt interested in me. Sure, he kissed me, and the kiss was incredible, but then he couldnt get out the door quick enough. He ran slower on the field with the game at stake.
All right, Im exaggerating, but I got the message loud and clear.
Why was I even here? Standing in the carpark of Bams place on a cold, overcast day.
Oh yeah, to help sick kids, and because I was getting paid. Rubie said if Bam didnt pay me, she would. More than her father paid too. I needed to keep my cats in food somehow. And myself in wine and chocolate.
Those were the only reasons. It had nothing to do with the fact I couldnt stop thinking about Bam and that kiss. The feel of his mouth on mine, firm and sweet. The touch of his tongue on my lips. My nipples sprang up, hard and ready. My clit throbbed a time or two.
I shook my head. I needed to push it out of my brain and get on with my life. Seeing Bam wasnt going to make it any easier.
Its just work, I told myself.
I sucked in a deep breath of freezing air and checked my phone.
Apartment six-two. Of course it was. Who could resist being on top—um, on the top floor.
Damnit, I was thinking about him again. I reminded myself how his abrupt departure stung, but it didnt rein in my traitorous clit.
No, I told myself. I have to stop. From now on, I would be all professionalism. I wouldnt, couldnt, let him get under my skin. Remember he got you fired. I should hate his guts, not want to jump his bones.
I started toward the front door, through the walk-through metal detector the guard waved me toward, and up the elevator to the sixth floor.
Only two apartments occupied the top floor. If I guessed correctly, one had a view back toward the city. The other, then, faced the lake.
No trophies for guessing which was Bams.
Not that I was jealous or anything. No way. I certainly didnt start to think what our lives might be like here, together. Not a chance. That would be ludicrous, not to mention dangerous.
I pressed the button beside the door with his number on it. If it rang or buzzed inside, I couldnt hear it.
I glanced around for a camera, but couldnt see one. Either the guard on the door was enough security, or it was hidden in the ceiling or door somewhere. If no one could find it, they couldnt break it. Judging by the size of the door—all two metres of it—even if they did, breaking in would be another thing.
Just as I was thinking that, the door swung open.
Bam stood there in track pants—yes, light grey ones—and a black t-shirt. His biceps bulged in firm-fitting sleeves. They drew my gaze and made my clit do a naked tap dance on a tabletop.
Shit, woman, youre supposed to be professional. That was difficult with my panties as wet as they were.
I hauled my brain back onto solid ground and held up a clipboard full of paper, most blank.
I wrote down some ideas. I held up the board and focused on his face. I stared at that too, until I felt myself blush.
Great, he said, come in.
At least I think that was what he said. He might have mentioned purple hippos dancing in grass skirts for all I knew.
I stepped inside and followed him from the neat foyer, to the living area.
Just as I guessed, he had a view across the beach and the bay beyond. The lake sparkled brighter than any diamond I ever saw, even under the cloud cover. It must look incredible when the sun was out.
Huge sliding glass doors were open to a wide balcony. The furniture which sat out there looked comfortable if not new.
Inside the penthouse was the same. Nothing was ragged or broken, but it looked lived in.
Well-loved.
The kitchen was almost new, maybe a year or two old.
A big sectional filled the living area, but it was dominated by a TV almost the size of a movie screen.
You really like to watch stuff. Good job, Grace. I could have kicked myself for saying something so dumb. I really needed to stop thinking with the brain in my panties and use my head instead. I reminded myself he wasnt interested and let the blush fade from my face.
I thought Bam would laugh me out the door. Instead, he chuckled.
Yeah, everyone says that. I like to immerse myself in a movie from time to time. Or watch a good game. I dont miss anything on that. He waved me toward a seat and flopped down beside me.
He looked like he wanted to say something, but he didnt know where to start.
So, my ideas. I all but shoved the board at him.
He had to grab it before I pressed it right into his stomach. It would probably have bounced off his abs and hit me in the head anyway.
That would be my luck. I could imagine my friends laughing when I told them how I got the big lump on my forehead.
Sorry, I muttered.
Uh, thats okay. Good to see youre—um—enthusiastic. He held the board in one hand and skimmed the first page. Hey, youve got some great ideas here. Youve taken the whole ugly jumper theme and run with it.
Every kid should have one, I said. If I had to wear one, then everyone did. I wasnt going to suffer alone. No way.
Grandpas knitting circle is happy to make as many of them as they can in the time we have. Grandpa was one of only two men in his knitting circle, but no one ever held it against him. Grandma hated the craft, but she was always supportive of him. Especially when he kept her in new jumpers.
Well have to buy the rest, I said. Ashley is looking into it.
If anyone can find ugly stuff, its her, Bam said. He blinked. I mean, she has amazing taste, but she knows people. Yknow?
Yes, I know, I said quickly. She has great taste, particularly in friends.
Thats true. He smiled like a preening cock. The feathered kind, that was. Although, the fleshy kind looked that smug from time to time. His probably…
Stop thinking about his cock, I shouted the words to myself in my own head. It almost worked.
He leaned forward to place the board on the table. So, about the other night.
I sat back and held up my hands. Its okay, no need to explain. We all get carried away from time to time. I know it didnt mean anything.
He frowned slightly, almost like he was hurt or something. It meant something to me.
My heart leaped out onto the balcony, did a triple front flip, with full twist, then belly flopped into the waves.
It did? I asked, surprised and cautious. The next few seconds would decide whether or not I would reel my heart back in, or let it sink out there all alone.
Yeah, he said.
I waited for more, but he didnt say anything.
What did it mean? I asked carefully.
Oh. Apparently it dawned on him that hed left me hanging. It meant a lot. I— He shifted on his seat. I like you. Like, a lot.
I like you too, I said. But he was Bam. He didnt do long-term. He did wham, bam, thank you maam. He left a trail of broken hearts behind him. If he stayed long enough for a woman to fall that hard.
The best thing I could do was to set the boundaries right now. Wed work together, but that was it. Id draw a firm line in the sand and keep to my side of it. Not even a toenail would cross it.
Not now, not eve?—
Whatever I was thinking went out of my head when he lowered his mouth to mine.
This kiss was sweeter than the last, but somehow, hotter at the same time.
The breath went out of my body. My heart pounded like it just jumped out of the lake and climbed back up the side of the building.
His tongue pressed lightly against my lips.
My mouth opened to let him run the tip over my lips.
I should pull away now, but I deepened the kiss instead. The next thing I knew, he had his hands twined in my hair. They moved slowly down my back, then up, inside my red jumper.
His fingertips brushed bare skin.
My breath hitched.
Do you want me to stop? he asked.
I should have told him yes, I really should. Instead I said, No, dont stop.
Fine, my subconscious said, well deal with the consequences later. Right now I didnt care. I just wanted, needed, to feel more, to be touched more, to be held more.
I helped him to pull my jumper over my head. He threw it. The red wool hit the side of the glass doors and slid to the floor. Another couple of centimetres and it would have ended up on the balcony. Or worse, in the water. I didnt want to fish things out of there for real.
I shivered in the breeze which blew in off the lake.
Here. Bam stood and offered me his hand.
I took it and let him pull me to my feet. A moment later he swept me off them again.
Strong arms under my back and legs, he carried me up a flight of steps to the side of the room, up to a bedroom with a bed big enough for the whole team.
Okay, maybe not all of them, but a few.
He lowered me down on one side—he would have had to throw me to put me in the middle—and lay down beside me.
Are you sure? he asked before his mouth reclaimed mine.
I came up for air long enough to say, Yes. Im sure.
Then it was all about clothes flying, and seeing if the track pants fulfilled what they had suggested.
Fuck.
They did.
They really, really did.
I swallowed and licked my lips before he kissed me again, the length of his body pressed against mine. He kissed my mouth, my neck, my collarbone, my shoulder.
My blood turned to fire. It burned so hot I wondered how we didnt set his cotton sheets on fire.
His hands and mouth wandered over every centimetre of my body. He licked and sucked each of my nipples in turn, drawing them between his lips and teasing them with his tongue. He kissed the undersides of my breasts and all around them, lingering to give attention to my chest, right above my heart.
He moved back up to kiss my mouth. He tasted like coffee and something uniquely Bam. Whatever it was, I couldnt get enough of it.
I wanted to learn every little bit of him, to commit it to memory. The light sprinkling of hair on his chest, the muscles which roped together from head to toe. The scars which dotted his skin here and there. Scraped knees, a divot across his forehead. He had one down his shoulder that almost reached his back, long but shallow, like it happened a long time ago.
Then there were the tattoos. I lost count of those after several.
A full sleeve took up one arm. Another was inked almost all the way down the other. On his shoulder, opposite the scar, was the Rapids logo—a fish in white water.
Skulls, wolves, foxes, even a tiny fairy of some kind, were inked wherever my eyes could feast. No naked women, I noticed.
None right now but me.
Your skin is so smooth, he marvelled. So perfect. He traced an outline around the daisy tattoo on my left shoulder. That was my only one.
His hand slid lower, over my thigh and between my legs. Gently, he parted them, before ghosting his fingers over my pussy.
I shivered from that light touch.
You like that? he whispered.
Mmmhmm. That was as eloquent as I could manage right now.
Good. He pulled away long enough to pick something up out of a drawer in the table beside his bed. A long, black feather.
My eyes widened.
He grinned and started to swipe the feather down my cheek and over my chest. Once again, he lingered over my heart, swishing back and forth before moving down to my nipples. I trembled as he teased my already sensitive peaks with the barest of touches.
If youre trying to drive me crazy, youre succeeding, I scolded half-heartedly.
Not crazy, gorgeous Grace, just turned on as fuck. He grinned.
Youre doing that too.
I ran the tips of my nails down his chest, over his stomach and down to his cock. I raked them over him gently before curling my hand around this thick, hard length.
He full-body shivered. Fucking hell, girl, if your hand feels that good, I cant wait to be balls deep inside you. He thrust into my hand a couple of times, while continuing to tease my nipples with the feather.
I cant wait either. I gripped him tighter and worked my hand up and down him, from his balls to his weeping head.
If you keep that up, youre gonna get a handful. He tossed the feather aside and slowly slid his cock out of my grip.
He shuffled down the bed and knelt between my knees. Eyes on mine, he ran the tip of his tongue all the way up my pussy.
Holy… I squeezed my eyes shut to keep from coming already.
I think she likes that, he said to himself.
I opened one eye and looked back at him as he grinned. He lowered his face and went to town on my clit with his tongue, lips and teeth. His stubble grazed the insides of my thighs, enticing rather than uncomfortable.
I grabbed handfuls of bedcovers and gripped onto them while bucking my hips, grinding myself against his mouth. Right before I came, he drew back.
What the?—
You wanna come, gorgeous Grace?
Hell yeah, I do, I replied breathlessly.
Hmm, I thought so. What do you say? He raised an eyebrow at me.
I raised both of mine back. If you dont let me come, Ill throw you off the balcony? I suggested.
He chuckled. Good luck with that.
When he continued to look expectant, I growled under my breath. Please?
He grinned. Much better. He lowered his face and continued to lick and suck my clit into the sweetest, hardest oblivion known to womankind.
I shattered into sixty-two million separate pieces, each with a thousand nerve endings all singing like a choir of bliss. I rocked harder against him, holding onto every piece as long as I could.
He didnt stop, or even slow until each one of those pieces came back together and I flopped back down to the bedcovers.
He rolled me over onto my side and tugged one of my legs over his.
I… He looked awkward. I dont usually do face to face, not this close, but I want to see you. He didnt wait for my response before positioning his cock and pressing himself smoothly inside me.
What did that mean? That he didnt want to be too intimate with any woman he fucked? Why did he want to see my face while he thrust himself into my wet heat?
I stopped thinking altogether and enjoyed the way he filled me all the way up. No guy ever came close. At the same time, I locked my eyes on his, watching his expression as he increased the speed, making more and more friction between our bodies.
Mmm, Im going to come again. Before he could say anything, I added, Please.
He grinned. I wanna hear you scream.
I screamed so loud my throat would hurt later, but it was the only way to express exactly what he did to me, driving his cock into my body at just the right angle.
His cry followed mine, breathless with effort, rocking harder, faster, deeper.
Hell yeah. So fucking gorgeous, Grace. So fucking perfect. He was still and silent then as he was claimed by his orgasm, his cock exploding his cum into me.
We collapsed together in a tangle of sweat and sheets and held onto each other for a long, long while, lost in the comfort of each other, and not wanting to think about what came next.
I fell into a doze to the sound of his heart..
Was I lying right in the eye of a hurricane? If I was, could I survive in one piece?