Chapter 14 #2
“I was wrong,” I confessed. “I mean, you are a player, and an incorrigible flirt,” I chided, “but you are nothing like Beau. You have honor, and integrity, and you know the meaning of loyalty. He most definitely did not.”
“Thank you for that, darlin’.” He dropped his gaze to his lap, then looked up at me again. “I’ve never apologized for that first night, and I should have.”
I waved him off. “No need to apologize for having fun. You’re a single guy, you’re free to do whatever – and whoever – you want.”
He reached up and cupped my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. “Still, I wish I’d made a better impression. Maybe then you’d acknowledge the attraction between us.”
A thrill shot through me before reality set in. “I can’t deny that I’m attracted to you, but I don’t think it would be a good idea to act on it. Casual hookups can get messy when you have mutual friends, not to mention my uncle’s feelings on the subject.”
His grip on my chin tightened almost imperceptibly. “I think as long as both of us go into this with a clear understanding of the expectations, we’re adult enough to handle the situation without dragging anyone else into it. There’s no reason things would have to get messy, as you put it.”
“A clear understanding of the expectations,” I repeated. “And what, exactly, would those expectations be?”
He hesitated before answering. “That we enjoy ourselves, for as long as it suits us both.” He paused, staring intently into my eyes. “I think we’d be explosive together, darlin’,” he coaxed, his voice dripping with seduction.
“You want to keep this as our dirty little secret?”
He shook his head. “If you think it will complicate things, then yeah, we can keep it to ourselves.”
I took a deep breath, remembering all the nights I’d spent thinking about him. How distracted I was whenever he was around. How sweet and charming he could be. How safe I felt with him. How much I wanted him.
“I don’t share. If I’m having sex with a man, I’d better be the only one,” I warned.
“If you’re having sex with me, I won’t need anyone else,” Trick agreed. “I’d expect the same from you.”
“I was tested after I found out about Beau’s cheating ass. I’m negative and get the birth control shot, but protection is still a must.”
“I get tested every three months to be safe. I’m negative, too and I always wrap my dick, darlin’.
I nodded. “Explosive, huh?”
“Absolutely,” he vowed.
A smile crept across my face, and then I nodded. “Show me.”
He swooped down to take my mouth in a searing kiss.
My pulse raced at the contact, and my lips parted as his tongue traced along the seam, eager for entry. He groaned, sliding his hand into my hair and angling my head to deepen the kiss.
I moaned, and the sound seemed to trigger something in him. He turned ravenous, his tongue plunging inside to tangle with mine as he snaked his other arm around me to urge me to get closer.
I shifted onto his lap, straddling him. The contact made him groan again, the sound one of sheer pleasure.
He tightened his hand in my hair and gripped my hip with the other, pulling me even tighter to him.
My breath caught at the feel of his cock, hard and thick against his zipper, and I rocked against him, moisture flooding my core.
“Fuck, darlin’, I knew you’d feel amazing,” he muttered as he lifted his lips from mine, then brushed them along my jaw and nibbled a line down my neck.
Chills broke out along my skin, and every nerve in my body flared to life in a way they never had before.
I arched my neck, allowing him better access.
He nipped and kissed his way over my collarbone, dipping his tongue into the hollow, before reversing course and gliding back up my neck.
I reached up and ran my fingers over the short hair on the sides of his head before carding them through the longer strands on top, grinding against him until I was breathless with need.
He grabbed my hips, holding me still, then gave me a wicked grin full of heat.
“Bedroom. Now.”
He stood up with me in his arms, and I nearly swooned at the strength and muscle control that feat had taken.
Clearly, that eight-pack of his wasn’t just for show.
Because I was so tall, I’d never been with a man who was able to pick me up with such ease, let alone from a seated position. It was fucking hot.
“Hang on, darlin’,” he warned, and I dutifully wrapped my legs around his waist, and clung to him.
He crossed the room and entered my bedroom, setting me on my feet next to the bed. It was a race to see who could strip first. He won, but only because the sight of his hard cock caused me to fumble trying to unclasp my bra.
“You’re even more beautiful than I imagined, and I have one hell of an imagination.” He reached for me, drawing my naked body against his.
“We fit together perfectly,” he said, sliding his hands down to cup my ass and pull me even closer. “I knew we would.”
He kissed me before I could utter a word, then tumbled me down onto the mattress, not even taking time to draw the covers back. I was breathless by the time he released my lips and kissed his way down my neck, then turned his attention to my breasts.
My nipples were hard and begging for his touch, and he didn’t keep me waiting.
“So fucking perfect,” he marveled, cupping first one breast, then the other.
His thumbs brushed over my nipples, a featherlight touch that set fire to every nerve ending in my body.
He dipped his head and drew one stiff peak into his mouth, circling it with his tongue then flicking it, only to circle it again.
When he gently bit down, my back bowed off the bed and a bolt of pleasure shot straight to my pussy.
“God, that feels incredible,” I breathed, the last word drawn out on a moan as I curled my fingers and dug into the comforter to ground myself.
I wrapped one leg around his hip, trying to draw him closer to where I needed him most. His hard cock brushed against my center, and I spread my legs in invitation. He pulled back slightly, just enough to reach between us.
He rubbed his thumb over my clit, then flicked it, and rubbed again.
My hips bucked, and then one long, thick finger slid between my folds.
He grunted in satisfaction as he plunged it inside me, then slightly curled it as he pulled back.
I gasped when he found my most sensitive spot.
He added a second finger, his thumb continuing to tease my clit as I writhed beneath him.
“You’re so fuckin’ wet for me, darlin’. I wanted to take my time with you tonight, but I don’t think I can wait.”
He slowly dragged his fingers from me, then positioned his body over mine. He froze suddenly, letting out a groan of pure frustration.
“Need a rubber,” he muttered as he shifted so he could lean over and grab his jeans from the floor next to the bed. He fished his wallet out of the back pocket, pulling out a condom.
I snatched it from him, then carefully tore open the packet.
“I’ve been dying to get my hands on you. This will have to do…for now,” I said, biting my lip as he sat back on his haunches, putting his impressive erection front and center.
I leaned forward, pinching the tip of the condom and rolling it down to the base of his cock. Trick gave a full-body shudder as I wrapped my hand around him and gave him a little tug and squeeze.
With a growl, he lunged at me, pushing me back against the mattress as he settled between my thighs.
“Need you now,” he rasped, then positioned his cock at my entrance. I tilted my hips up to give him access, then wrapped my legs around his waist.
He scooped his hands under my ass and lifted me even more, plunging into me and stealing the breath from my body. I met him thrust for thrust, pleasure pulsating through me with every roll of his hips.
“Just like that,” I gasped when he changed the angle and hit the perfect spot inside me. The sensation of fullness was incredible. The room was filled with the sound of skin slapping against skin, pleasure-filled grunts, and breathy moans.
“I’m so close, Trick” I whispered a warning as the feeling of tightness coiled deep within me.
“Jase,” he corrected. “Say my name, Lauren. I want to hear you screaming for me when you come.”
That was enough to tip me over the edge.
“Yes, Jase!”
He became positively feral, pounding into me as he chased his own release.
“Lauren…fuck,” he drew the word out in a low rasp that sent aftershocks through me.
I ran my hands over his broad shoulders, then raked my nails lightly down his sweat-slicked back. He groaned, then let out a low chuckle.
“Explosive…I knew it,” he whispered in satisfaction, then dropped a quick kiss on my lips. He eased out of me, then carefully removed the condom and tied it off. He slid out of bed, heading across the hall to the bathroom to dispose of it.
Not willing to parade around naked in front of Trick quite yet, I got up and swiped my T-shirt from the pile of clothes on the floor. It barely covered the cheeks of my ass, but it was better than nothing.
As soon as Trick walked back into the bedroom, I dashed across the hall and closed the bathroom door.
I peed – no UTI for this woman, thank you – and grabbed a washcloth to do a quick clean-up.
When I entered the bedroom a few minutes later, I found Trick wearing his boxer briefs and clutching his T-shirt and jeans in one hand.
“What time do you need to be at the studio tomorrow morning?” He asked the question casually, as if we hadn’t just had mind-blowing sex.
“Uh, nine-thirty,” I replied woodenly, suddenly thankful I’d taken time to slip on my shirt. I felt exposed, mentally and physically, and I couldn’t imagine how much worse it would be if I were actually standing in front of him in the nude right now.
Trick nodded. “I’ll follow you there so I can see how secure the building is. Tony will meet us there and will stay with you, then he’ll follow you back here and stay until I get done at the gym.”
“How am I supposed to explain to people why I have a biker shadowing me all day?”
“You tell them the truth. Somebody is stalking you, and we’re keeping you safe until the bastard’s caught.”
“Tony won’t be able to stay in the booth with me,” I cautioned, my years of vocal work giving me the control to keep my voice steady when all I really wanted to do was cry.
“Then he’ll park his ass in the hallway right outside the door. It’s not optional.”
I nodded, looking everywhere but at the man who’d been inside me not even ten minutes ago.
He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Look, I know we said we would keep this to ourselves, but –“
“Just between us,” I said, not wanting to hear him remind me of the limits on our arrangement.
He stared at me, studying my face, then slowly nodded.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I said, needing him to go so I could break down without an audience.
“Goodnight, babe,” he said huskily, dropping a kiss on my forehead as he walked out.
I slowly walked over to close the door behind him, then sagged against it and dropped my head as a tear streaked down my cheek. That carelessly tossed out “babe” was the final straw, as if I were just another random woman and it wasn’t even worth the effort for him to remember my name.
After a few seconds, I took a deep breath, stood up straight and squared my shoulders.
I swiped a finger under both eyes, brushing away the tears, and resolved not to let Trick see that I was hurt.
I’d agreed to a casual arrangement with explosive sex, and that’s exactly what I got.
It wasn’t his fault that I found myself hoping for so much more.
The shower turned on moments later, and I braced myself for another round of horrendously off-key warbling, but the house remained silent except for the sound of the water running.
Hours later, I was still awake, questioning whether I was strong enough to have a no-strings fling with Trick and then walk away with no hard feelings when it was over.
“Enjoy this for what it is, Lauren,” I whispered into the darkness. “If you don’t expect more, then you won’t be disappointed.”