17. Paige
As I watch him walk away, I can”t help but feel a strange mix of emotions. There”s a warmth in my chest and a little bit of excitement, but also a hint of trepidation. I”ve spent my entire life avoiding feelings like this, but maybe it”s time for a change.
I follow him into the bedroom, feeling a primal need to make him mine. It’s almost feral. I grab his shoulder and jerk him back, almost knocking him off balance. He turns around with surprise in his eyes. I don’t give him time to question my actions. I grab his face and pull him close, my lips colliding with his in a deep and passionate kiss. His arms wrap around me instinctively, pulling me closer as I use my grip on his shoulders to keep myself steady.
We break apart as we both gasp for breath. His eyes are wide and surprised as they meet mine, but they quickly melt into something soft and warm. There”s definitely a spark there, something that”s been simmering beneath the surface since I first saw him in those aviators.
My heart hammers in my chest as I pull him close once more, our bodies fitting together perfectly. His breath tickles the side of my neck as he leans down to press a kiss on the sensitive flesh behind my ear, causing a shiver to run down my spine. He weaves his fingers through my hair, his lips exploring the sensitive skin of my neck with an intimate thoroughness that leaves me breathless.
His other hand moves to rest on my back, pulling me tighter against him as if he can”t bear the thought of any space between us. His erection pushes against my belly. I push back and look up at him. His eyes are filled with a storm of emotions, all centered around a fierce kind of desire. He”s looking at me like I am the only thing in the world he wants or needs.
He leans in close again, this time capturing my lips with his own in a sweet, lingering kiss that leaves my heart pounding. His fingers brush away some hair from my face, tracing along my cheekbone in an intimate caress. I wrap my arms around his neck, threading my fingers through the short stubble at the back of his head as I pull myself impossibly closer to him.
For a moment, the world fades away and it”s just him and me, consumed in our own little universe filled with desire and anticipation. His lips never lose contact with mine, our tongues dance in perfect rhythm, setting my body on fire.
“I want you,” he growls against my mouth.
“Have me. Take me.”
He pushes me against the wall, answering my need for something fierce. His mouth is relentless, moving down to my neck, his teeth grazing my skin and making me gasp in delight. My nails dig into his broad shoulders, pulling him even closer.
There”s an urgency as our clothes are discarded in a heap on the ground, a testament to the building tension between us. He jerks the skimpy thong I had just bought, tearing it from my body and tossing it over his shoulders. The look in his eyes is pure fire.
I stare back at him. “I just bought that.”
“And I’ll buy you twenty more just so I can tear them from your body.”
He grabs my hands and lifts them above me. With one strong hand, he holds my wrists together against the wall with his other hand trailing over my body. He reaches for one breast, cupping it tenderly, his thumb brushing over the hardened peak. The touch is electrifying, sparking a pleasure that travels straight to my core.
His lips follow the path his hand had traced, leaving a trail of fire on my skin. He takes my nipple into his mouth, sucking gently and then harder as I let out a whimper of pleasure. His teeth scrape over the sensitive bud.
The sensations are too much, and I tug at the hand imprisoning my wrists, longing to be free so I can explore his body as he is exploring mine. But he only tightens his grip, a silent promise that this moment is about me.
His other hand leaves my breast, tracing a path down my stomach, igniting a blaze as it goes. I gasp as he slips a finger below, exploring the heat between my legs. He groans against my chest, the sound vibrating through me and causing my legs to buckle.
”God, Paige,” he breathes out, his voice raw with desire. ”You”re so wet.”
His statement is simple and yet so erotic that it sends a thrill shooting through me. I arch against him as his finger slips inside, my body welcoming him eagerly. His thumb brushes over my sensitive bud in a rhythm almost too much to bear.
“Don’t stop,” I beg.
“Not a chance. You’re so fucking wet. How much do you want me, Paige?”
”So much,” I pant out, my words a hasty response swallowed by the storm of his lips descending on mine.
He throws me a sidelong smirk that”s so devilishly handsome it sends another jolt of heat through me. That cocky attitude of his, usually so infuriating, is right now the sexiest thing I have ever seen. He explores deeper within me, adding a second finger and twisting them in a way that causes my insides to tighten in anticipation.
”Tell me,” He orders between kisses. His voice is laced with desire - husky and demanding.
”I want...I want you inside me,” I manage to gas out, my voice barely a whisper amidst the ragged gasps for breath.
A low growl emerges from his throat, a primal sound that coils around my body. His lips find mine again, swallowing the whimper that tries to escape as his fingers continue their relentless exploration. The world spins around me, lost in a haze of desire and anticipation.
Withdrawing his fingers from my heated core, he releases my wrists from their confinement against the wall, giving me the freedom I had not realized I had wanted. My arms fall limply by my sides as his body moves away from mine, creating a cold void in all the places we were previously touching. It’s just for a moment though, as he steps back into my personal space.
His gaze locks on mine. “Turn around.”
I swallow and nod. I turn around, facing the wall. He is behind me in an instant, his heated presence radiating off his muscular body. His hands move to the small of my back, his fingers digging into my skin, anchoring me. I can feel his arousal pressing insistently against me, leaving no doubt about his intentions. He kisses over my shoulders and then nibbles my neck. His hand slides between my legs, palming my wet heat.
”Ready for me, Paige?” His voice is a husky whisper against my ear, his breath spreading tingles all over my body.
”More than ready,” I respond breathlessly. His fingers dance back up to my waist, hooking into the creases of my hips and pulling me closer.
Every nerve ending pulsates as he enters me, filling me completely. A gasp escapes my lips, and I can hear his chuckle behind me. But it”s not long before his laughter turns into low grunts of pleasure as he starts moving. It”s slow at first, a languid rhythm that matches the thudding of our hearts. I close my eyes and let myself enjoy the sensation of him pressed so intimately against me.
”Hands on the wall,” he commands, and I comply instantly, my palms flat against the cold, hard surface. His fingers dig into my hips as he thrusts deeper, harder, the rhythm picking up pace. The sensation of him moving inside me sends my mind into a whirlwind of pleasure. My body rocks with each of his thrusts, a low moan escaping my lips with every breath I exhale.
His breathless words flutter against the nape of my neck as he continues to drive into me relentlessly. A wild desperation seizes us, driving him to rougher movements, each powerful thrust shaking the very foundation of my being.
”God, Paige...you feel so good,” he grunts through clenched teeth.
His words spur me on, a shiver of delight running down my spine. I thrust back against him, meeting him halfway. Our bodies move in perfect sync, each push and pull escalating the fire that consumes us both. The sounds of our labored breathing fills the room, our grunts and moans marking the rhythm of our desperate dance.
”Faster,” I beg, my voice barely above a whisper. My command is followed obediently, and his pace quickens.
His right hand moves away from my hip to glide towards my front, drifting lower until it reaches the throbbing bud of excitement between my legs. He rubs me in circles, matching the cadence of his thrusts. It”s too much, the combination of his movements inside me and the relentless assault on my sensitive, swollen nub. I can feel a climax building up within me, a wave of pleasure that threatens to break any moment.
”Wait for me,” he orders, though his voice is strained, indicating that he”s also teetering on the edge.
I nod silent compliance, gritting my teeth against the impending eruption building within me. He tightens his grip on my waist, and with a final deep thrust that takes my breath away, he shatters into his own climax with a primitive growl. The sensation of his release triggers my own, and before I can suppress it, a wave of ecstasy crashes over me. I can feel my inner muscles contracting around him as wave after wave of overwhelming pleasure washes over me. A guttural whimper escapes my lips as my body convulses, my nails scraping against the wall in front of me.
Together we ride out the waves, our bodies pressing against each other, moving in a primal rhythm that eclipses any semblance of self-control. His movements slow as the tremors subside, his hands tender on my hips, easing the searing heat that still lingers. His forehead drops onto the crook of my neck, his heavy breaths fanning across my skin. The room is silent, save for our combined pants and the quiet hum of the city outside.
”I”ve got you, Paige,” he whispers against my skin, his voice hoarse but reassuring. His arms wrap around me in an intimate hold, pulling me flush against his spent body. The wall cold at my front, his body warm at my back – a perfect contrast that leaves me wanting and satisfied at the same time.
I can”t find the words to respond, both emotionally and physically drained.
He turns me around, kissing me before leading me to bed. Being in his arms is nothing like I have ever experienced. I feel safe and content. I don’t need to go anywhere or do anything except be in his arms. He holds me close, kissing over my heated flesh. I can feel his breathing slowing and know he’s falling asleep.
I lie awake, unable to shake the whirlwind of emotions swirling through my mind. I grapple with the realization that I”m inexplicably drawn to this blue-collar, crass guy who couldn”t be more different from anyone I”ve ever known. I don’t imagine he’s ever worn a suit in his life, and I honestly wouldn’t want him to.
With a frustrated sigh, I throw off the covers and pad across the room, my thoughts racing a mile a minute. I had no idea that a simple escape from a crashed jet would lead to this, to me questioning everything I thought I knew about myself and what I want out of life.
I grab my laptop and take it to the living room. I boot it up and check my email. There’s a message from the whistleblower, urgent and cryptic. He needs to talk to me, he says, it”s imperative. Something about the message doesn”t sit right with me, and for the first time, I can”t shake the feeling that there”s something off about the whole situation. Why me?
He didn”t ask why I didn”t show up for our meeting, didn”t question my sudden disappearance. I chew my lip, torn between my instincts telling me to run and my determination to find the underlying cause of this. I quickly type out a response, telling him I”m in Seattle and suggesting we meet.
As I hit send, I can”t help but feel a sense of unease settling over me. I only get my life back if I can bring an end to all this craziness.