Chapter 8
Paige
I’m awoken to the feel of lips on my neck, and I know that’s not reasonable, so I refuse to open my eyes. I’m obviously still dreaming, and it’s so real. In my dream, I’m back in my apartment where life was perfect. My amazing boyfriend must have slept over. I can smell him. His scent fills the room and surrounds me. And his mouth…
“Paige…”
I gasp, yanked all the way awake. I sit up so fast that my elbow makes contact with something hard. And then there’s a groan. I twist to see what or who is in my bed. All the blood leaves my face as I find myself face-to-face with Dane.
Memories of last night flood back, and then I realize I’ve elbowed him in the jaw. He’s rubbing it. “Holy fuck.” I reach out a hand and touch him to prove to myself that he’s real.
He stops stroking his jaw to take my hand. “Yeah, I thought the same thing when I woke up about an hour ago and realized it was true. You did come to Edge last night. It really happened. You’re in my apartment on the third floor.”
I start crying as I shove him onto his back and climb on top of him, straddling him. I grab his shoulders and lean forward. I’m sobbing. He’s really here. I’m really here. It wasn’t a dream.
He sets his hands on my back and rubs them up and down. “Baby, it’s okay.”
I can’t stop crying, though. I’m going to cry all the time. Every day. Ten times a day.
He pulls me down so my chest collides with his, angling my head into his shoulder. It’s a wonder I can bend like this. My knees are on either side of his hips.
And his cock is hard against my pussy.
Dane threads his fingers in my messy bun. “It’s okay to cry, baby.”
Good thing because it takes me a few minutes to suck back the sobs to a sniffle. I rise to sitting and stare at him. “You’re bigger,” I whisper. “You must work out all the time.”
“What else was I supposed to do for the last three years?”
I lift my hands to wipe my tears. “I don’t know, meet someone else? Get married? Move on?”
“Is that what you wanted me to do?”
I shake my head. “No. I wanted you to marry me.”
“And I will.” He smiles.
That’s absurd, of course. We don’t know each other anymore. Maybe we’re not the same people we were three years ago. I’m certainly more jaded, and I jump at every noise. I have nightmares. I don’t know myself as Paige.
I do know that the man I loved three years ago is under me with the biggest hard-on I’ve ever felt. He’s wearing only his boxer briefs. I’m wearing one of his T-shirts. My pussy is rocking against the cotton of his briefs.
I also know I’m not wasting another moment without him inside me. I yank my shirt over my head and then grab the elastic at his waist before scooting down his body, pulling his underwear with me as I go.
Dane is breathing heavily as I climb back up to straddle him. I’m pretty sure his cock is larger than it used to be. Is that possible? Do men’s cocks get bigger if they work out so much that they’re more muscular? It’s probably all in my head.
He grabs my hips, stopping me right before I lift up so I can lodge him at my entrance. “Paige…” he groans.
“What?” I set my hands on his chest.
“Baby, are you sure?”
“Can you think of a single reason in the history of reasons why we shouldn’t fuck?”
“Yeah.” His eyes are dancing, and he’s fighting a smile. His reason is going to be goofy.
I roll my eyes. “Fine. Tell me.”
“Because we haven’t even kissed yet. I need your lips, baby.”
I give him a slow grin and lower my mouth. The moment our lips collide, fireworks explode. All is right with the world. Like puzzle pieces jumping into place at once. Everything was scrambled, and now it’s in its rightful place.
Dane threads his fingers in my hair, angling my head where he wants it. He devours me, licking and sucking until we’re both groaning. I’m so wet that I’m sliding along the length of his cock. I’m about to come already.
Suddenly, Dane moves his hands to my waist. He lifts me and flips me onto my back. In less than a second, he’s straddling me, his lips are back on mine, and his hands are roaming up and down my torso.
When he cups my breasts, I arch into his touch. I used to love the way he worshiped my boobs. He hasn’t changed. He pinches my nipples and gives a slight tug, just enough pain to race to my pussy.
He’s panting when he releases my lips. His eyes meet mine for a second—his smoldering with passion. I remember that look. I fucking love it.
And then he’s shifting down my body. He shoves his knees between my legs and scoots lower. I barely have time to grasp what his intention is before he’s holding my thighs wide open and sucking on my clit.
I cry out. My eyes roll back. I grab his shoulders and dig my fingertips into his muscles. I’m going to come so hard I might not be whole afterward.
He thrusts his tongue into me and then drags it across my clit over and over until I can’t hold back for another second. I scream as my orgasm consumes me.
It’s been so long. Too long. I need this so badly. He better not stop now. I claw at him and writhe against him. “Cock, Dane. Now. God, please.”
He slides along my body, lines up with my entrance, and slams into me.
My mouth falls open. I can’t breathe. I want to inhale his scent and the scent of our lovemaking, but I can’t. All I can do is feel. Instead of pulling out, he grinds deeper, rocking against my clit in a way he knows will push me over the edge again.
I grip his back as his lips crash down on mine. He tastes of me. He used to do this all the time—eat me and then kiss me. It’s heady. It’s fucking sexy. I used to do the same to him—suck him off, swallow, and then kiss him. We were filthy in bed, and we both loved it. I want that back.
My hands slide to his ass. Fuck, even his ass is firm now. I can’t get traction with my fingers. My hands slip along his tight butt cheeks.
We’re like two desperate animals in heat, grasping at each other, moaning, kissing so hard our lips will be swollen.
He thrusts in and out of me, hard and fast, the way I like it. There’s nothing in the universe except us.
I’m shocked when Dane yanks out of me abruptly. He lifts his entire body several inches and stares down at me with wild eyes as he wraps his hand around his cock and tugs. He comes all over my stomach and my breasts, marking me.
My legs are trembling. I needed another orgasm. I’m whimpering. Why did he pull out?
He’s gasping for air when he drops over me once again and thrusts back into me with his still-hard, spent cock.
I cry out. Fuck, it feels good. He takes his time now, easing in and out, grinding against my clit until I finally come, my pussy milking him with more power than I remember.
Dane kisses all over my face. “We forgot a condom, baby.”
“Ohhh. Fuck. It never even occurred to me.”
He grins. “I noticed. Luckily, my brain popped into gear.” He kisses me on the mouth. “Sorry. I should have used my head a minute earlier and snagged one before we started.”
“It’s okay. It’s not the right time of the month anyway.”
“But you’re not on any birth control.” He’s not asking. He’s confirming.
“No. I was getting the shots, but when I…started my new life, it was the last thing on my mind, and I’ve certainly never needed to worry about birth control until this morning.”
He kisses me again. “Sorry, I was careless.”
“I’m not.” I smile at him. “I might have died if you’d stopped to grab a condom.”
He chuckles. “I don’t think you can die from needing my cock, baby.”
“Oh, I disagree.” I start giggling, and I can’t stop. It feels so good. I don’t know when the last time I laughed was.
He drops down next to me and pulls me against him, chest-to-chest. We’re a sticky mess, his come smeared between us.
A phone buzzes somewhere in the apartment.
Dane draws in a deep breath, not moving an inch.
“It’s yours,” I tell him. “Mine is not that high-tech.”
He chuckles. “The thought of you without the latest phone is mind-boggling.”
“Yeah, well, it hasn’t been easy. Sometimes, I pace my apartment in computer-and-gadget withdrawal.”
“I’ll set you up with everything state-of-the-art as soon as we move to my penthouse.”
There’s a knock at the door. “That probably goes with the missed phone call,” I say.
Dane slides out of bed, grabs his T-shirt, uses it to wipe come off his torso, and then tosses it to me. He finds his briefs and bends to put them on. “Pull the sheet over you, baby,” he says as he leans over to kiss me.
I’m so dazed I didn’t even think of that. I sit up and pull the sheet over my chest while Dane flips on the lights and looks through the peephole. A second later, he opens the door.
Easton is in the hallway. “Hey, sorry to interrupt. I brought you some things.” The man is a godsend. I can’t believe how kind both brothers have been. He hands Dane a brown paper bag and a drink tray with four drinks.
Dane backs up. “Come in. I’m sorry we’re…”
Easton steps inside and smiles at me. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“You didn’t,” I manage.
Dane sets what I assume is food on the small table, and then Easton hands him a duffel bag that was draped over his shoulder. He looks at me again. “I borrowed some of Faye’s clothes. They should fit you well enough.”
“What did you tell her?” Dane asks.
“That one of our members needed some help. Nothing else. She understood. I don’t keep anything from Faye, so me not elaborating was all she needed to jump into action and know it had to be important.”
“Thank you so much,” I say. “I hope I get to meet her one day. I’d like to thank her myself.”
“You will,” Dane insists.
Easton heads toward the door. “Call me if you need anything at all. I know you have a lot to figure out. I realize it’s a mess without a simple solution. I’m here for you both.”
“Thank you,” Dane replies as he walks his friend to the door.
And then we’re alone again.
Dane opens the blinds, allowing natural light into the room.
“Shit.” I look around. “What time is it?”
Dane finds his phone and looks at it. “Seven. What time are you supposed to be at work?”
I blow out a relieved breath. “Ten.” I’ve never called in sick. I’m nervous about lying to my boss.
Dane comes over to me and sits on the edge of the bed. “Better work on perfecting your rough I’m-dying voice,” he teases before he yanks the sheet down and grabs my hand. “Shower first. Then food.”
I spot the steaming cups of coffee as soon as I’m standing. “Coffee first, then shower, then food.”
Dane chuckles. “Okay.” He opens a drawer in the armoire, grabs a clean T-shirt, and hands it to me. “I’m all for you wandering around naked, but I know you were never really into that.”
I pull the shirt over my head. He’s right. It’s one of the quirky things about me. I can scene publicly in a club, exposing myself to other members, but I always feel self-conscious wandering around nude at home.
He tugs me into his embrace. “You were always sexy as fuck, and you’re even sexier now, but if you feel uncomfortable naked, then don’t do it.”
I lift onto my toes to kiss him.
We turn toward the coffee next. There’s a pile of creamer and sweeteners in the middle of the drink holder. The other two beverages are apple juice and orange juice. I’m grateful. I could use the sugar.
In fact, I twist the lid off the orange juice and take a long drink. When I set it down, Dane hands me the perfect cup of coffee, just how I like it. His memory is impeccable. I moan around the first sip.
I eye the bag of food. “Maybe we should also eat first. I’m suddenly hungry.” After pulling out a chair, I sit and tear into the bag. “How many women did he think you were harboring?” I joke. There are four breakfast sandwiches.
Dane sits in the other chair and picks one up. “I’m sure he was being thorough. He didn’t know what you would like.”
I open a random one and take a huge bite. As I chew and swallow, I meet Dane’s gaze. He’s grinning. “What?” I ask before taking another bite.
“Easton has no idea my girl will eat just about anything. Nor does he know how hard my cock gets when I watch you enjoy your food.”
I shrug. “Starving,” I mutter.
He carefully reaches for one of the other sandwiches. “Will I get injured if I claim one?” he teases.
I swat at him. “Maybe.”
We stare at each other while we devour our food. It’s so surreal. I can’t imagine what we’re going to do next, but I can’t worry about that now. I’m focused on watching Dane eat, the muscles in his arms, his pecs, his messy morning hair, his full lips, the shadow of a beard he always wakes up with, the intensity in his gaze.
When I’m done with the sandwich, I down the rest of the orange juice and sip the coffee again. I feel more human, but I’m also fucking scared.
Dane tosses our wrappers in the trash, puts the two remaining sandwiches in the minifridge, and pulls me off my seat and into his arms. He smooths my hair back from my face. “Hey, we’re going to figure this out.”
I nod. I don’t know how the fuck we’re going to do this, but we have to come up with a plan.