Chapter Twenty-Two
ELLIE
The reasons for keeping this dating situation fake were fading fast as Drew and I practically ran up the stairs. Each day we’d spent together revealed another side to him I adored. And even though our relationship had an expiration date, I wouldn’t regret a single second.
With my arms around his neck, I lightly scratched at his skin, running my fingertips up and down the corded muscles.
God, I wanted to touch him everywhere.
He strode through the door and dipped his head to rest in the curve of my neck. He drew in a deep breath. “Fuck, you smell good.” His lips brushed along my collarbone, then his teeth nipped the same spot, and he soothed it with his tongue.
My head fell back to give him better access.
He lightly set me on my feet, making me frown. I’d been enjoying his tiny touches and his hips pressed to mine.
Was he changing his mind?
No, he couldn’t be. I hadn’t missed how I wasn’t the only one to come downstairs. I glanced at the wet spot on the front of his charcoal gray suit pants. The knowledge that I turned him on that much was heady and euphoric; powerful even.
Feeling powerful in the bedroom was new for me. It heightened the sensations racing through my body. A tremble reverberated through me at my intense need for Drew’s hands, mouth, and skin against mine.
The heat of his gaze contradicted the worry now shadowing his eyes. He brushed his knuckles over the curve of my cheek. “Are you sure? Fake dating aside, I’m your boss. I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to do this.”
This sweet, beautiful man. I shook my head. “I love that you want my consent, and you have it. Every step of the way, tonight and always, you have my full and enthusiastic consent.”
“But—”
I placed my finger over his lips. “Shush. Let me finish. I’m not making this decision lightly.
We’ve made no promises, but I know within my heart that I can trust you, Drew Kingsley.
I trust you implicitly. I have no expectations for what tomorrow will bring for us, but I do know you’d never take advantage of me or the position you hold. ”
Drew nodded, accepting my declaration. Then he took a step back, his hungry eyes not missing a single inch of my body. “Take off your shirt for me, buttercup.”
I shivered at the ultimate control laced with the sweet kindness that was so him in this voice—I’d never experienced that before or even believed I deserved it. I flashed him what I hoped was a sexy, confident smile, then lifted the hem of my shirt.
“Slowly,” Drew said.
I stopped short at his command, my fingers fumbling as I contemplated what to do next. I’d already pulled my frosting covered shirt halfway up my torso and wasn’t sure what to do next.
I bit my lip in frustration. How was I supposed to do this slow and still hold that heated look in his eyes?
I dropped my hands, letting the fabric fall back into place. “I want this to be good for you.” In the past, I’d struggled to speak my thoughts and desires, but this was Drew. He was different, and I wanted tonight to be something we both enjoyed. “But I don’t know how to do this in a sensual way.”
Drew moved back into my space, his steps slow, measured.
His lips pressed to mine, moving at a pace that fired up every cell in my body.
He skimmed his tongue along my bottom lip, and I groaned, pushing my body closer and into his.
I wanted him to throw me down on the bed and have his way with me.
His tongue tangled with mine, swirling and sliding as he gently sucked.
“Drew,” I moaned. Kissing had always been the best way to get me into the mood and out of my head. My fingertips slid under his shirt, my palms heating up against the inferno of his skin.
I lightly ran my fingertips up over his abdomen, taking the time to explore every dip, every muscle, every crease that begged me to lick and suck it as a way to show how much I appreciated his beautiful body.
Drew sat on the edge of the bed and tugged me until my legs slid between his thighs. His large hands pushed my shirt up an inch, and he leaned in to lick the exposed skin. My arms dropped to my sides not knowing what to do with them, yet needing something to hold on to.
“Put your hands on my shoulders.” Drew’s command made me realize this is what I’d been wanting in my previous relationships.
Someone to guide me. To tell me what to do.
To take charge. At this point, I hadn’t explored much during sex.
My old boyfriends kissed me enough to turn me on, and then we had sex.
This … was different … unexpected … and exactly what I needed.
My fingers curved over his broad shoulders, my palms settling as he teased the fabric up another inch. This time, he ran his teeth along my soft skin, taking the time to trace the silvery stretch marks and explore the roundness of my belly.
I shivered, and he glanced up at me from under his long lashes. “You good?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Very good. You?”
He grinned, “Exactly where I want to be.”
Could I die from swooning or maybe just pass out? I was sure I could, because his words were making me light-headed.
My thoughts fled as he continued to kiss his way up, exposing another inch of my skin.
My legs trembled trying to hold me up. Tears burned at the back of my eyes.
We’d only just begun, and I already felt like he was worshipping my body.
Not just using it to satisfy his desires or his needs at the expense of mine, but truly cherishing it and enjoying every moment.
This foreplay wasn’t just a means to an end—it was its own event.
When he pulled my shirt over my breasts, he sucked in a shaky breath. “Fuck me,” he said incredulously. “Lace is my kryptonite,” he whispered as his mouth settled over one lace covered nipple. His light bite had me pressing my thighs into his. “You like that?”
“Yes. God, yes.” I’d never had a guy do anything beyond a quick suck. I had no idea what I’d been missing.
“These are magnificent.” He pulled down the edges of my bra so that it rested beneath, pushing my breasts higher and closer together. “Perfect size for my hands and my mouth.”
My back arched as he sucked a nipple into his mouth, while one hand massaged the other. With each nibble, lick, suck, and pinch, desire streaked down to my throbbing clit. He shifted his head back and forth between them, and the scratch of his beard only enhanced the feeling.
“Drew.” His name came out as a plea.
“I’ve only gotten started, buttercup. And I’ve been wanting to do this for days. Don’t even think about rushing me.”
I whimpered, loving and hating every word spilling from his mouth. By this time, I was squirming restlessly against him, ready to yank his head up and demand he satisfy this ache building in my core.
He raised his chin, a smirk on his lips.
The jerk knew just what he was doing to me.
He lifted my shirt over my head, drawing my arms up with it. Then with deft fingers he released the front clasp of my bra and pulled that off, too.
I clutched the waistband of my pants, ready to move this along.
“Not yet.” He shook his head.
My needy body gave a cry of frustration, and I might have too.
“I haven’t had a chance to caress every inch of you.
Before tonight’s over, Ellie, I’ll know everything that causes that sexy hitch in your breath, what has you moaning with need, and what makes your pussy clench so hard it weeps for my dick to take it hard and fast. We only get one first time, and I’m going to make the most of it. ”
My eyes widened. Holy dirty talk.
This man was going to make me pass out from his words alone.
I let out a strangled gasp. “Yes, please.”
He chuckled at my eagerness. His fingertips ran a light path up and down my arms before he took one arm and kneaded it. When he reached my wrist, his lips replaced his hands and his tongue slowly licked across my palm.
Sweet baby Jesus. When had my hands become so sensitive?
He kissed my palm before continuing to my fingers, running his tongue over the tips before giving them a nip.
An uneven breath puffed out, and I bit my lower lip, hard. Did people orgasm from this alone? Because every nerve ending in my body was lit up like a roman candle, ready to explode.
When he moved to my other arm to do the same thing, I cried out in pleasure and annoyance.
“Something you need to say, darlin’?”
I’d always thought the word darling was old-fashioned, the least sexiest word in the world, but coming from his lips, it made me shake with need.
“Touch me,” I begged. I actually begged. With just a few caresses from him, I was unraveling, becoming someone I didn’t recognize.
His fingers edged around the top of my pants, and I couldn’t stop my hips from flexing forward. His palm slid down to cup my core, and I whimpered as he pressed hard enough for my clit to scream yes, keep going.
The pressure was good, but … “More. I need to feel your hands on me.”
His wicked grin told me he knew he was teasing me. Yet before I could grumble, he slid his fingers inside my pants and touched the top of my underwear.
It was his turn to groan. “Lace. Does it match?”
Now it was my chance to turn the tables on him. “Maybe. I think you need to find out for yourself.”
He tugged at my waistband, pulling it down so it sat below my apron belly. I tensed. Not because I was ashamed of my body, but with other guys, my larger size sometimes became a problem.
Noticing the change in me, Drew stopped. “Where did you go?”
It was better to jump right in and address my concerns now. “I’m a bigger girl, Drew.”
His furrowed brow was cute, and his hands that now rested on my hips, tightened. “Okay. Maybe I’m dense, but … ”
I gestured at my stomach and the rolls he had kissed. “I just wanted to make sure we’re on the same page before we go any further.”
Understanding lit his eyes then anger streaked through them. He picked me up and set me back so suddenly I squeaked in surprise. Then he stood. His height had never bothered me before, but right now he towered over me.
Instinctively, I tried to cover my breasts.
His gaze softened, and he ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck. I’m doing this all wrong.”
“It’s fine—”
Drew took the hand that banded across my chest and tugged my palm to his mouth to kiss it. “I want you. Every part of you. Each dip, curve, lump, bump. Any part that caused you to doubt yourself and pull you out of the perfect moment we just had together.”
“I’m sor—”
“No, you don’t get to apologize.”
My startled eyes met his.
“You have nothing to apologize for. The assholes you’ve been with that haven’t shown you it was a privilege to pleasure every inch of you. They should be the ones apologizing.”
The heavy weight I’d been carrying for so long lifted. I grinned at him and tugged my hand from his grasp to place both of my palms on his shirt-covered chest. Leaning forward, I pressed my lips in between his pecs.
His ragged breath sounded above me, and I wanted more of that from him tonight. “I don’t know how you keep getting more perfect by the second, but somehow you do. And if this was your pre-game, I’m looking forward to the rest of the show.”
His eyes flared with that now—familiar heat.
I placed a kiss on the edge of his scruffy jaw. “If I haven’t totally ruined the moment with my insecurity, I want to keep going. I want to end the night with you buried inside me and me screaming your name.”
“You’ll always be secure with me, Ellie,” he whispered, his forehead coming down to rest on mine. “Fuck me.”
“I’m hoping so,” I responded, a grin spreading across my face.
His lips captured mine, devouring me, letting me know that he was on board with tonight as much as I was. I threaded my fingers through his hair. I felt safe with him and trusted him to care for me. He had shown it in his every action and his words.
This time his hands were rough, running over my curves, as though trying to show me how much he wanted me.
And I was going to let him.
All. Night. Long.