36. Raina
36
RAINA
F oster stepped over the threshold quietly, letting me take control as I closed the door and shut us inside my apartment alone.
Want a drink? I asked as he scanned the room.
He shook his head. No thanks.
When he turned his attention to me, his gaze clashed with mine, and I swallowed, not sure what to do next. I had no idea why I d even invited him in; I just knew I didn t want him to leave. Not like this.
I can t believe you re actually in my apartment, I admitted.
Me neither, he answered hoarsely. I honestly thought I d never get to see you again.
The aching quality in his gaze melted me, and unable to help myself, I reached out to touch his golden wheat hair. Oh, Foster. I m so sorry that I hurt you.
No, he started, swallowing thickly and shaking his head. You didn t do anything wro?—
But he didn t finish the sentiment. My fingers had sunk deeper into his hair, and he released a raspy groan before tipping his head toward my hand. His eyes closed as if he relished the touch, and he drew in a long, satisfied breath. God, that feels good.
Emboldened by his reaction, I continued, stepping closer and exploring the rich, silken locks more freely.
Raina… he cautioned in an unsteady breath as if trying to warn me to go easy. But the way he strained toward me, drowning in my touch, only encouraged me to lift my other hand so all ten fingers could feel his soft locks.
He sobbed out a needy sound, and I ran my gaze over his face. He really did have the most beautiful features, I swear. I doubt there was a flaw on him.
It seemed all kinds of wrong for him to look so freaking sad, though. Before my coma, I think I d only ever seen him smile.
So I found myself saying, Can I hug you?
His lashes parted in surprise. Of course, he rasped, easily stepping closer.
He let me be the one to embrace him first. But he was the one who swooped his arms around my waist and kept me close.
The solid feel of him against me was nice. Reassuring and comforting but also thrilling.
We both sucked in a surprised breath at the contact, our bodies fitting into each other naturally enough that it felt as if we d always belonged this way.
Foster? I whispered.
Mmm? His voice reverberated through me, sending tingles between my legs and into my breasts.
We ve hugged before, haven t we?
He paused for almost too long before hesitantly answering, Yes.
I pulled my face back to squint at him. But how? You said we couldn t touch.
He shook his head, disagreeing. I said I couldn t touch you . But you figured out how to touch me.
My mouth fell open. And I—I hugged you? You let a ghost hug you?
He sent me an amused smile. I let you do pretty much anything you wanted.
Well, that sounded scintillating.
I lifted my brows and took a step back to glance down at his body, vividly imagining all the things I m sure the ghost version of me would want to do with the superstar quarterback of the football team.
Knowing me, I probably wanted to rip your shirt off, I said dryly.
Foster threw his head back and laughed. You definitely know yourself well.
My eyebrows arched. Really? I took your shirt off?
His lips parted, and his gaze roamed my face before he admitted, Once.
So it was kind of like…this? Gripping the hem of the shirt he was wearing now, I started to slowly draw it up his torso.
His throat worked as he swallowed, but he didn t stop me as he gazed hopefully into my eyes.
Pretty much, he answered in a strained voice, and keeping eye contact with me, he lifted his arms to assist while I pulled the shirt over his head.
As soon as he was naked from the waist up, my gaze gobbled up his golden, toned chest before dropping to his rock-hard abs.
I tossed the shirt aside and lifted my hands to either side of his rib cage. And you just…let me run my hands over you? I asked.
He bobbed his head without speaking, but the moment my palms started to slide up, he drew in a sharp breath and covered my hands gently. I just came from the gym. I haven t showered.
Trust me, I told him, tightening my grip to let him know I wasn t giving up that easily. You don t stink.
His lips lifted with amusement as he released my fingers. You don t either, he murmured. His face shifted until his nose was nearly in my hair. It s so strange that I can finally smell you now.
Marveling over the shockingly warm skin that I stroked, I lifted my gaze to his as I turned my hand over so I could draw the backs of my knuckles over the muscles covering his stomach. You couldn t smell me before?
He shuddered before shaking his head. No. I could see you and hear you, and eventually feel you, but I could never smell or touch you.
Raising his hand, he just barely caught a piece of the end of my hair, and he began to wrap it around his finger.
And now that you can touch me? I asked leadingly.
Foster s blue eyes caught mine, and the heated intensity in them looked so predatory and hungry that fire flooded my belly and everything between my legs swelled tightly, aching enough that I began to throb.
Are you sure you want me to? he whispered.
Fuck, yes, I was sure. He had me so turned on I could feel my heartbeat through my breasts, pulsating out the ends of my nipples.
Yes, I rasped, and before the last hiss of an S left me, he was gripping the back of my neck with firm, knowing fingers.
Tipping my head back, he lowered his mouth, and I parted my lips for that first kiss. Except he bypassed my mouth and pressed his teeth to the front of my throat.
Oh! I said in surprise, already going weak in the knees from the surprise that such a sensual assault wrought.
I gripped his shoulders and threw my head back to give him more access.
He growled and wrapped one arm around my waist to tug me flush against him as he ground his erection into my stomach. His hand fisted into the back of my shirt, and he licked his way up the side of my neck.
It was so fucking hot that I lifted onto my toes, hoping to rub against him where I ached the most.
Reading my needs, he let go of my shirt to grab my ass and lift me.
Oh God, I groaned, feeling him right there at the apex of my thighs, large and demanding, seeking entrance through I don t know how many layers of clothes. Foster…
Burying his face between my breasts, he carried me to my room, where he set me on the edge of the bed with my feet on the floor. As he stood before me and toed off his sneakers, I kicked away my sandals and then pulled my top up over my head. When I reached behind me to unhook my bra, Foster shook his head as if in starstruck awe.
But what he asked was, Are you definitely sure? You don t have to do this, you know.
I pulled the bra off and tossed it to the side. I need to do this, I told him, reaching for the waistband of his shorts to tug him close—so close that the bulge tenting out the front was right there before me. I need something to remind me that not everything hurts. I need to forget what does . I need to feel alive again. I just need to escape .
His eyes clouded with sympathy, and he nodded, cupping my hair in his palm to tell me he understood. So I reached for his cock through the front of his shorts, and he grunted out a hungry sound, only to catch my wrist, stopping me.
I jerked my gaze up, thinking he d changed his mind. But all he did was send me a small smile. I do believe it s my turn to do the touching, he teased. Then he slowly drew my hand away from his lap and lowered himself to his knees on the floor in front of me. So just lie back, darlin . Let me worship you for a minute.
My lips parted, dazed by the fact that I had Foster Union literally kneeling before me. Then, I did as he asked; I reclined on the mattress and gripped the sheets under me as he took my ankle first in his gentle grip.
He lifted my foot and then pressed a kiss to the inside of my calf before working his way up my leg. At the knee, he paused and started back down at the other ankle to work his way up once again.
When he reached my second knee, he covered them both with his palms as if he might part my thighs next. I held my breath in eager expectation and exhaled in a rush when he only released my knees to grip the waistband of my shorts instead. Then, he started to peel them down, only to lean in so he could take a quick taste of one of my nipples.
I jerked in surprise, then cupped the back of his head as he feasted. All the while, his hands were still working on my shorts, so I lifted my hips to help him shed them. Once he was sliding them down my legs, he pulled away to have a look at the goods.
Fuck me, he breathed as his gaze raked me from head to toe until he paused at my pussy. Warm palms returned to my knees. They spread me open.
Then, he dipped his head, lifting his gaze up my body to meet my eyes.
He flicked out his tongue for that first taste. I clenched at the startling contact, and I gritted my teeth, watching him as he watched me.
His jaw flexed before he leaned in more greedily and wrapped his whole mouth around me.
Oh God, I gasped, still clutching the sheets but now smacking my fisted hands down on the mattress beside me to help alleviate all the sensations pounding mercilessly through me. My eyes sought the ceiling and my hips arched off the bed.
Foster muffled out a sound of need as if he tasted something that pleased him, and he pressed in harder.
I arched with every roll of his tongue until he slipped a finger inside me. Senses fried, I went rigid, so close to the edge that I think I hung suspended above my orgasm for a solid two seconds before gravity slammed me back down, and I came in an explosion that made me cry out loudly.
Foster moaned and licked me until the end when my body went slack, and my bones turned to liquid.
Then he slowly pulled his finger free, causing me to shudder as he released his mouth from my clit. Wiping the back of his hand across his lips, he looked up into my eyes.
I rolled my head across the mattress, trying to shake it in denial that this had actually just happened. Then I gasped, Holy shit.
A husky chuckle answered me.
As if satisfied with himself, Foster sat back on his haunches where he watched me with warm fascination. You re so fucking beautiful, he murmured affectionately.
A blush heated my cheeks, and I had to bite the inside of my lip and glance up at the ceiling briefly to control the emotions roaring through me before I returned my gaze to him.
Tipping up his chin, he asked, Feel like shimmying down that bed a little more so I can join you up there?
Stomach tightening giddily over the idea of more , I nodded and sat up. Okay. Then I pushed my feet from the floor and scooted backward so I could shift further up the mattress toward the pillows.
Foster rose to his feet as he watched me. Keeping eye contact, he pushed his hand into his pocket and removed a wallet. Seconds later, he produced a condom. When he held it up for display between two fingers and then lifted his eyebrows in question, I nodded my head.
Yes. Oh my God, yes, did I want to put that thing to use.
A slow grin spread across his features, and he tossed the foiled package onto the bed in my direction, giving me the power.
I grabbed the packet and started to rip it open with my teeth while Foster hooked his thumbs into the hem of his shorts and dragged them down his legs.
Holy…wow, I breathed. He d always looked marvelous with clothes on, but stark naked, the man was a freaking masterpiece. He had an athlete s body, iron thighs, six-pack abs, chiseled chest, and a ruddy hard cock that jutted out at me with sexual intent.
I licked my lips as I looked at it, then darted my gaze up to Foster s as he started to crawl his way onto the mattress with me and up over my body.
I tensed and balled my hands into fists, watching him and wondering if I could touch him yet.
Unable to control myself, I reached out and glided my fingers over his chest, then made my way down his abdomen and between his legs, where I wrapped my hand around his bulk and squeezed.
He sucked in a grunt and paused, hovering directly above me as he rested his weight on his hands and knees.
I pumped him a few times, learning his girth and texture. Then I began to slide the condom over the head of his cock.
He swallowed thickly and looked into my eyes. Then he lowered one arm to rest on his elbow so he could gently cup my face in his hands. For the rest of my life, he swore to me quietly. I think I will always remember how you look right now. He shook his head, looking as if he was in pain before he rasped, You re so you .
Then he leaned down to press his mouth to mine.
I sighed against his lips and wound my free hand into his hair, gripping his locks as I kept stroking his dick.
His hips shifted so he could push himself deeper into my palm. Then his tongue thrust between my teeth, and I gasped, forgetting his cock so both my hands could plunge into his hair.
He moaned and lowered his body to mine, fitting himself naturally between my thighs. I parted and lifted my knees to make room for him, and his erection found my opening with ease.
For a while, he just ground against me, using my slick arousal to run wetness along his length, and I shuddered every time he slid past a sensitive point.
Our kisses picked up heat, growing hotter and deeper. But the moment he shifted his hips to align us, he broke off to press his forehead to mine and pant erratically.
Raina, he rasped as he gripped the back of my hair. I wish—I wish...
Confused by the plea in his voice, I blinked into his eyes and asked, You wish what?
But he only shook his head and thrust inside me.
I gasped. My mouth fell open and stayed that way as he stretched me deeper. And wider. But God, he was just so there , so filling, so large. And when he moved—good Christ almighty. I think I went cross-eyed.
Sliding his way past every sensitive nerve ending I had, he paused, then pulled free, igniting me all over again, before he pushed his way back in, causing me to whimper and shudder and hold on to him for dear life.
Foster, I begged, grabbing his ass and pulling him into me for a second longer so my muscles could simply contract around him, savoring the weight.
But he gnashed his teeth through a curse and slapped his hand against the pillow next to my head before jerking himself out so he could shove his way back in again. Losing all finesse, he pumped his hips roughly, following that primal instinct to rut.
My body tried to adjust, but it couldn t keep up. So it just tightened around him before, boom, lightning struck my pores, and I was moaning my release.
Foster went faster still, pistoning into me until he reared deep and grunted, burying his face in my neck and squeezing me tight. Fuck. Fuck, he choked out, spasming as he came.
I held him close until we both slumped, and he collapsed on top of me, breathing hard.
I patted his back, and he kissed my hair, relishing this moment.
I should get off you, he managed to slur and started to pick himself up.
But I tightened my arms around him and clamped him tighter between my thighs, begging, Not yet.
He paused, then relaxed again, letting me take on more of his weight once more.
I sighed happily, and he nuzzled his nose against the side of my face, murmuring my name as if Raina translated into heaven for him.
Closing my eyes, I drifted, glad for this moment.