Chapter 6
6
CHLOE
When we were finished, and I’d turned down dessert, Brad offered to drive me home, but I told him it wasn’t necessary. I lived less than a five-minute walk away. I wanted the air and the time it would take me to walk home to clear my head. To think about how tonight had gone. How attracted to him I was and how it wasn’t just physical, like I figured it would be after I met him.
It was different from my first date with Tony. I wasn’t trying to impress Brad, and I don’t think he was trying to impress me. He didn’t show off his truck, or talk about how much money he made. He didn’t spend an hour putting down his ex—nope, I had been the one to mention exes. Nor did he complain about his relationship with his parents. In fact, he was proud of his family, but he didn’t gloat about it. All green flags in my check list.
Not only that but he was a good listener, was careful to make sure the conversation wasn’t one-sided, didn’t fuss about me splitting the check, and had a good sense of humor. A little soft around the edges with his open affection for rom-com movies and things his sisters had taught him, but I wasn’t going to complain about that. It was reassuring to have a man who had no hangups about anything impugning his precious masculinity.
And he was so good-looking. That big, friendly, capable kind of good-looking that appealed to me, especially after life with Tony. I could end this night right and honestly say I wanted to see Brad again. And soon.
But when we exited the restaurant and I told him I wanted to walk home, he frowned.
“It’s dark out. And it’s late. I’d feel better if you let me walk you home.” He held his hands up. “No pressure. I won’t even ask for a kiss good night. I won’t feel right if I leave you to walk home unescorted. That’s not how my parents raised me.”
No kiss goodnight. The promise should make me relax, but it pissed me off for some strange reason. I can’t explain what happened next. All I knew was I stepped toward him until my chest hit his, cupped my hand at the back of his head, and pulled him down to me. And kissed him.
He stiffened, briefly, then his arms engulfed me, drew me against him, his warmth a furnace against the chill spring breeze blowing across the lake. I’d missed this contact, this feeling of longing, of desire. The promise of sex.
A wolf whistle from across the street had him stepping back, but I followed him, my hand dropping from his head to trail down his shoulders, down his arms to catch his hands in mine. “Walk me home then.”
My voice was husky, my invitation unmistakable.
He didn’t question me, simply laced his fingers with mine and followed me.
“Maybe we could do this again sometime?”
“Sure.” I couldn’t resist teasing him. How could I, given that he’d admitted he loved rom-coms? “We could go to that new British-themed restaurant that just opened in Peterborough. They do high teas in the middle of the afternoon with the fancy lazy Susans with the little cookies and sandwiches.”
He stopped, causing me to stop too. He had the weirdest expression. Had I insulted him?
“Pemberley’s Parlour?”
“Yeah, I think that’s what it’s called.”
“That’s owned by my sister Joy. You really need to try her macarons. Though I’m not a fan of the cucumber sandwiches.” He shuddered, though I wasn’t sure if it was an act or real.
What were the odds? “Seriously? Your sister owns it? What is she, a chef?”
“Yes. She’s always been great at cooking.” His smile widened, making the corners of his eyes crinkle. “I got to try out all the various cookies and cakes she serves as she was testing the menu. I’d be happy to take you if you want to go, though fair warning, they show Jane Austen movies during high tea.”
I was still wrapping my head around such a big masculine guy could be related to a Jane Austen fan when I realized we’d reached the two stores that bracketed the door that led to my apartment.
Brad stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets as I unlocked and pushed open the stairwell door. A true gentlemen, not about to pressure me to come in unless I issued another invitation.
I paused in the vestibule, then faced him. “Want to come up?”
The streetlights caught the widening of his eyes. “Are you sure? You can change your mind if you want.”
“I’m sure,” I whispered, before I kissed him again.
He followed me upstairs, waited without speaking while I unlocked my apartment door and ushered him in.
The moment I closed the door and locked the deadbolt, I curled my fingers into his shirt and pulled him against me, walking backward until I was sandwiched between him and the wall. “Right here, right now.”
I’d always wanted to have sex this way but never met a man tall enough or strong enough to handle me. With Brad, I had no doubt he wouldn’t let me down.
Together we dealt with buttons and zippers, before he hoisted me so my legs straddled his hips.
Then he stopped, and swore, something I realized I’d not heard him do yet.
“What’s wrong?”
“Condom.” The word came out in a deep growl that I found so fucking sexy. Then the word made its way through to my sex-addled brain.
Shit, I’d nearly forgotten too. I had some in my bedside that I’d bought shortly after I’d moved here, and used a few out of the box, but who knew if they’d passed their expiration date? He set me on the ground, which allowed my gaze to drift lower and I swallowed hard. I’d wondered if such a tall guy would have a big dick, and I was gratified that Brad didn’t fail to disappoint in the width or girth department. “That’s some prime hardwood you’ve got there, Calhoun.”
He snorted. “That’s not exactly original. As for condoms…” The most charming blush filled his cheeks until they matched the red of his beard. “I always carry one with me just in case. I wasn’t figuring I’d end up here tonight.”
“I don’t care. Get the damned thing on and fuck me.”
His eyes widened, but he reached into his back pocket. While he fumbled with the square package, I lowered myself to my knees to play with the hard length of his dick.
He hitched in a breath when I took the head in my mouth, swirling my tongue around the smooth skin. As I watched him to gauge his reaction, Brad slapped his hands on the wall, bracing himself while I worked my way down his length and slowly withdrew. He scrunched closed his eyes and bit his lip when I increased the suction on my second pass. On the third pass, his arms started shaking, his hips moving to follow my mouth as I withdrew.
On the fourth pass, he pulled from my mouth entirely and lifted me until my legs wound round his hips once again.
“Doing this backwards,” he muttered.
Then he lowered himself to his knees and gave me similar attention. His beard tickled my inner thighs while his tongue unerringly found all the right places until my knees shook and I begged him to stop.
He didn’t stop. When he finally sat back, I slumped onto the floor in front of him. Once he’d donned the condom, he gathered me in his arms, and lifted me onto his lap.
“No, I want to be underneath you.” I needed his weight on top of me, needed him to take charge. “Right here. Right now.”
Luckily my grandmother had loaned me a carpet when I’d moved in so it cushioned me when he followed me as I lay down, my legs spread apart in invitation.
“Fuck me,” I whispered, unable to take my gaze off his face and the look of sheer wonder, and heat, in his expression.
He positioned himself over me, found my entrance and thrust inside. “Fuck. Me,” he said, though it wasn’t a repetition of what I’d just said. There was a reverence in his tone, in the way he treated me, careful to keep his weight off me.
His hips slowly pulled back until I was afraid he’d withdraw completely, then thrust in once more, filling me even deeper. He dropped his head to my shoulder, his breath warm on my neck. He stopped, made an adjustment to my position so he could finger my clit.
Oh shit. The man knew what he was doing. I set aside the brief thought that flitted through my head, wondering how he had learned, who had taught, then decided I didn’t care. I gave myself to his expert technique until I was shaking, and tight around him, coming hard.
My orgasm triggered his, his shaft so large I could feel the pulses deep inside me, setting off another orgasm, or maybe it was the same one not wanting to end.
We stayed twined together, panting until the last of the tremors died down. His dick was still hard enough for another round when he finally pulled free and rolled beside me.
He rested his forehead against mine, eyes closed. “Thank you. That was incredible.”
“Right back at you.” Tony hadn’t been bad in bed, and I’d had several really good partners since, but Brad? Something inside me wasn’t willing to let him go yet. I wanted more, body and soul.
“Stay the night?” I said softly.
His eyes opened and he straightened. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’m sure.” Holy Mother Mary I was sure, I wanted this man on top of me, underneath me, inside me any which way I could get him. Again and again and again. Until we were both tired and sweaty and couldn’t move. Then I wanted to lie in his arms and listen to him fall asleep, maybe even fall asleep too. Except for one small but important issue.
I showed Brad the bathroom so he could clean up after our quickie. While he did that, I raced into my bedroom to check the best-by date on the box of condoms I’d bought almost two years ago. Relieved that they were good for more than another year, I returned to the living room as he came out of the bathroom, zipping his jeans.
I raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing zipping them up again? Take ’em off, big guy. Your shirt too.”
A smile slowly creased his face, caught in the streetlights streaming in through the living room window. “Right back at you,” he said, parroting the words I’d used moments before.
He undid his zipper, put his thumbs beneath his waist band and pushed down both his jeans and underwear in one smooth move. His shirt was over his head and tossed on the chair in the corner before I got the buttons on my shirt undone.
Holy crap, the man had a chest to rival a superhero.
Good thing I’d worn my best bra and good thing I’d given myself a quick trim of my nether regions. I hadn’t planned to have sex tonight, but a girl can never be too careful.
A man who wants to take me on a date to an afternoon tea was definitely worth the effort.
My shirt joined his, and my bra moments later. My pants and underwear were already on the floor over by the front door, so I didn’t have to worry about them.
brAD
I hadn’t expected to be invited in, much less invited to her bedroom. But I was not about to turn her down, especially after the sex we’d just had. When she caught my hand and let me into her bedroom, I willingly followed.
I’d expected to find her bed covered in bright coloured sheets, and bold prints hung on the wall to rival her strong personality. Instead, her bedroom, like the rest of her apartment, could only be described as spartan. A full bed, with no headboard, not the queen or king that might fit my height—or hers—comfortably, with muted light-gray sheets. Beside the bed was a single bedside table with a replica Victorian oil lamp that had been popular in the 1960s, both of which looked like they’d been purchased from a charity shop. Tucked in the corner was a 1950s dresser, either inherited or bought on the cheap. Not surprising, I guess, on a waitress’s wages.
While she opened the nightstand and withdrew a box of condoms—obviously I wasn’t the first man she’d invited up here, but I chose not to think on that for tonight—I continued my perusal of her bedroom. Unlike my sisters’ rooms, there were no knickknacks or photos on the dresser, no pictures on the plain beige walls. Nothing of her personality.
My perusal of her belongings was stopped when she captured my hands once more drew me down upon her bed. Upon her.
While I’d enjoyed our encounter in the living room, I wanted to take this part slow. To explore Chloe, to find out what things excited her, what didn’t, to learn everything I could about her.
I started off by kissing her, gently at first, until her hands slid over my back and dug into my butt. She lifted her hips, pressing herself against my erection. Damn it all, if she kept this pace up, I’d come again far too fast and our fun would be over for several hours.
With a growl, I shifted my weight until I was lying beside her, one leg thrown over her hips to hold her in place. Then I lowered my head and trailed my lips down her jaw, which she tilted up with a hum. I kissed down her neck, tasting her, smelling a hint of some perfume or maybe it was soap she’d used, memorizing it because I wasn’t sure I’d ever get another opportunity to do this again.
The whole time my hands were exploring, stroking up her arms, and down her body until I cupped her breasts. Her eyes closed and her breath hitched when I captured one nipple with my teeth and slightly tugged, then used my tongue until her hips writhed beneath me, and she was begging me to do…something. Anything.
Her hands were exploring me too, tangling in my hair to keep my mouth right where it wanted to be, in possession of her. Then she loosened her grip and tried to roll toward me, to take charge, but I stopped her.
“My turn,” I whispered.
“But I want you to—” Frustration filled her voice.
“I know what you want, and we will. Soon. But I’m not doing this in a rush again. I want you to enjoy this.” To remember me as giving you everything you need.
As I switched to give her other breast its fair share of attention, I flattened my hand over her belly, over every sinuous curve leading down to her slick, welcoming folds, and slid one finger deep inside her. She moaned when my thumb found her clit and set up a rhythm that had her arching into my touch.
I lifted my head to watch her expression as her body tightened around my fingers. She moaned and writhed with each thrust, until she begged me to fuck her, damn it, then arched and came around my hand with a cry. Followed by yet another fuck me, damn it demand.
Who was I to deny her—or myself—such pleasure? I grabbed one of the condoms she’d tossed on the nightstand, donned it, and plunged into her depths. We set up a rhythm that started off slow, then increased until we were both shuddering in fiery pleasure. I was sweating at holding off my own release until she’d found hers once more. Then I thrust one last time and came so hard, I had trouble breathing and collapsed on top of her.