Chapter 42
forty-two
BLTs in the bath
N othing felt as right as Elissa in his arms. He’d lost control as soon as her legs had wrapped around him and owed her at least two more orgasms. She was perfect.
He’d wanted this woman from the moment she’d walked into the Sandpiper. Each interaction with her had only heightened his desire. Even now, as tired as he was, as satisfied as he was, he still wanted her.
What frightened him, however, was how much he loved her.
He’d do anything for Elissa. Hell, he’d walked out of work in the middle of the day because she needed him.
Him. Not his money, not his connections, not his family.
Elissa had needed him. No one needed him.
The thought sent his heart racing. What if he wasn’t enough?
“What are you thinking?” Elissa placed a cool hand on his chest. “Your heart…”
He couldn’t tell her. Could he? No, no way. If she didn’t feel the same, it would destroy him. At least if he didn’t admit it, he could pretend for a while longer. He kissed the top of her head.
“I gotta clean up. Don’t move.”
She stretched, arching her back, displaying her gorgeous tits and almost derailing his last brain cell.
“I don’t think I could even if I wanted to.”
Before he could give in to the urge to kiss her again, he hurried to the bathroom. There were two bottles of water, and he brought her one.
“Here, drink.”
Lazily, she sat up and took the bottle from him. “Okay, Mr. Bossy.”
He watched carefully as she sipped. “I have plans that require you to be well hydrated.”
His stomach gurgled, and Elissa giggled.
“And it seems your stomach has other plans.”
“Stupid stomach.” He kissed her softly, undemandingly. She hummed beneath him, but her own stomach growled. It was his turn to laugh.
Elissa moaned and rested her head against his shoulder. “God, that’s embarrassing.”
“Okay, new plan. You get into a relaxing jacuzzi bath, and I’ll go raid the kitchen. Bet I can find the fixing for BLTs. Want one?”
“BLTs in the bath? Sure, I’m in.”
He started the bath, then dressed as Elissa slid into the water. He was tempted to join her, and his cock twitched, ready for another round.
“Not yet,” he muttered.
“What’s that?” Her head lolled on the edge of the tub, her eyes glassy with pleasure.
“I’ll be right back. Do not fall asleep in the tub.”
“You’re no fun.”
He slipped out into the moonlit courtyard and headed straight for the kitchen.
He was right, there was leftover bacon, some thick sourdough, and lettuce and tomato.
Fifteen minutes later, he returned with a plate stacked with BLTs and a couple of bananas.
Elissa’s head turned toward him sleepily, and the bathwater lapped her chest above her breasts.
He could see the rosy tips, and all thoughts of putting his mouth on anything other than her fled.
“What?” She smiled, as though she could read his thoughts.
“I want you.”
“Again?”
“Yes, again.” Always , he didn’t say.
“What about the BLTs in the bath?”
He put the plate down on the table. “Do you want to eat a BLT in the bath?”
She shook her head.
“What do you want, Elissa?”
She bit her lower lip and stood in the tub. “You.”
In a few steps, he stood in front of her, his hand threading through the damp curls at her nape.
“I can live with that.”
And he closed his mouth over hers, pulling her close. The water from her body soaked through his shirt, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was holding her, kissing her, loving her.
She broke away. “You’re all wet.”
“So are you.”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
He helped her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel. “Let’s make sure you’re wet in all the right ways.”
“Yes, please.”
Ryan led her to the bed and sat her down.
He kissed her again, languidly, tasting her.
He chased a drop of water down her jaw with his tongue.
She shivered beneath him in the most delicious way.
The drop disappeared between the valley of her breasts.
With a dexterous flick of his fingers, he loosened the towel.
It fell around her, putting her curves, her breasts, her body on full display.
She reached for the towel, but he caught her hand.
“No. Let me look.”
He stepped away as a flush crept up her chest to her neck to land on her cheeks, highlighting her lovely little freckles. His cock, already at half-staff, hardened as he looked.
“Have I told you today how beautiful you are?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“That’s a damned shame. I swear it’ll never happen again. You are singularly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
“I am not.”
“Are you trying to call me a liar?”
“No—”
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And what I behold is beautiful to me.”
“Are you sure you’re just a bartender-slash-office-manager-slash-podcaster and not a poet?”
He pulled his T-shirt over his head. “Touch yourself, beautiful, and maybe I’ll answer your question.”
Her flush deepened, but one hand lifted from the bed and cupped her breast. His breath caught in his throat as her thumb grazed her nipple.
“Like this?”
“Uh-huh,” was all he could manage.
“Are you going to make me do this by myself, or are you going to play fair?”
He swallowed thickly and undid the button on his slacks. Her tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip as he did.
“Go lower, Elissa,” he ground out.
Her eyes widened, but she trailed her fingers down her chest and over her stomach. They paused above the thatch of hair between her legs.
“I want to see it first.” She bit her lip and lust flared in her eyes.
He smirked and unzipped his pants. He’d gone commando to fetch the food, and his cock sprung out as he pushed his pants down. She rewarded him by dropping her fingers to her clit. A quiet moan escaped as she rubbed a little circle.
“That’s it, Elissa, good girl.” He pumped his cock once, twice. He wouldn’t last long.
She braced her other arm behind her and dropped her head back, lust personified. That, he wanted to look up and see that.
Ryan moved to the nightstand, where he’d tossed a few condoms before making the sandwiches, and snagged one. She watched him through half-open eyes. He held up the condom.
“Wanna go for a ride?”
She laughed, a low, throaty thing that made his cock twitch and his heart swell. He could listen to her laugh forever. Dear god, for-fucking-ever.
Elissa nodded and he sat next to her, placing the condom in her hand. He lay back as she tore it open. Tenderly, she rolled it over his hardened length, and his hips rose of their own accord. She threw a leg over, straddling him and holding herself above his cock. Her eyes twinkled with mischief.
“Please, Elissa.” He thrust his hips up.
“I like it when you beg.” She circled the base with her hand, and slowly lowered herself, taking him in inch by inch, no matter how much he urged her to go quicker. No matter how his cock reached for her.
Finally, after a couple torturous moments, he was fully seated.
“Lean back, and we’ll see who begs next,” he growled, raising his hips.
She hissed in a breath and let out a moan. “That’s so good.”
Then she did as he said, bracing her hands on his thighs. His fingers found her clit and circled as his hips rose, thrusting into her. She met him, thrust for thrust, grinding down. Her fingers dug into the muscles of his thighs. He’d wear the bruises proudly.
Her voice pitched up, and her walls clamped down on him. She rode him wildly, proudly, beautifully as she broke with pleasure. It was his undoing. A last thrust, and he joined her in bliss, the world going fuzzy and golden.
Elissa collapsed on top of him, and he rolled them, slipping from her folds. He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her tenderly. She ran her fingers through his chest hair and teased his nipples.
He chuckled. “Enough of that, unless you’re ready for another round.”
“Mmm, not yet.”
“Yet?”
Her stomach gurgled. “Hungry.”
“Your wish is my command. But don’t you dare get dressed. I’ll be right back.”
He took care of business in the bathroom, washed his hands, and grabbed the sandwiches. Elissa slipped into the bathroom to wash up and joined him in bed. It was still too long to be separated from her.
They ate BLTs in bed, washed them down with water, and Elissa grabbed a banana.
“What’s up with this?” She waved it around.
“Potassium for endurance.”
“Good to know.” She put it on the nightstand.
Ryan squirmed down under the covers and held out his arm. “C’mere.”
Elissa fit herself in the space he left her, resting her head on his chest as his arm wrapped around her.
Yes, this was exactly how his life was supposed to be.
His stupid job could go to hell, his trust fund could rot, and his podcast could fail, yet as long as Elissa was in his arms, life was good.
“You’re awfully quiet. What’s going on?” She trailed a finger along his arm. He caught it in his hand before she found his ticklish spots.
“Just thinking I’d rather hold you in my arms than go back to my job on Monday.”
“What about your trust fund?”
“Lots of people don’t have trust funds and do fine.”
She snorted. “True. I might not have a job to go back to on Monday.”
“You ready to talk about what happened?”
“Not really.”
“I’m here whenever you’re ready.”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
He kissed her forehead. “Okay. Get some rest.”
Ryan held Elissa as her breaths slowed and her fingers stilled. When he was certain she was asleep, he kissed her forehead again.
“I love you, Elissa Wright,” he whispered into her silky brown hair.
Then he allowed himself to join her in dreamland.