Immediately, every muscle in my body relaxes, every care in the world dissolving under his touch. His lips move tenderly, but there’s an undercurrent of possession that is undeniable. It’s freeing to be in his hold, to know that it’s him guiding me, protecting me, because if there’s one thing about Cross I’ve never once felt unsure about, it’s that he’d never let anything happen to me.
Being with other men was never like this. It was a mess of awkward touches, weird hang-ups, and a strange dance between the two of us that demonstrated how unsure, how wrong we were with one another.
I lie on his bed, his body hovering over me, his lips kissing every thought and feeling into mine. Our mouths move together, mine opening, his tongue slipping right past my lips, as if this is the way things are supposed to be.
Lifting the hem of his shirt, I drag it up and over his head. He breaks the kiss just long enough to let the fabric rush by then crashes his mouth to mine again. The silky strands of his hair glide through my fingers, the stubble on his cheeks roughing up my palms as I find every way possible to make contact with his body.
The muscles of his back flex as he moves off me, the lines in his sides stretching as he climbs off the bed and to his feet. He grins salaciously, panting as hard as I am.
“Why do you still have clothes on?” I ask, running my eyes down his tanned, taut skin.
“Why do you?”
I flinch for one brief moment, waiting for the fear I have of getting naked in front of another person to kick in. At that exact second, when I feel the niggle of embarrassment start to work its way in, Cross decides to smile—not the sexy one, the one that makes me want to take off my clothes because my libido is running wild, the other one…the shy one, the one that builds me up in a way that makes me want to be with him. They are two very different things.
Lifting my hips, I skim my shorts down my legs and kick them off. They sail through the air then he catches them with one hand.
“Best answer ever,” he says, tossing them to the floor.
“I didn’t think you’d mind, but you still have your pants on, and that’s a problem.”
His chest rumbles with a chuckle as he works his pants and boxers down his body one glorious inch at a time. “It’s gonna be a big problem.”
I see what he means.
He palms his cock in his hand, the tip of it almost reaching his belly button. It’s swollen, ready for me, a bead of pre-cum sitting at the top as he squeezes the shaft.
“It’s a good thing,” I begin, twisting around on the bed so my feet aren’t dangling off the end, “I’m a good problem solver.”
The mattress dips with his weight, my skin burning as his swipes against it. He sits back on his knees at my feet and looks down at me. “Promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest. The way he looks at me steals my breath, knots my stomach into a bundle of emotions I can’t begin to unravel right now. It’s as if he’s not just seeing my body, or my anticipation of his next move. He’s seeing me in a way that’s bare and has nothing to do with a lack of fabric on my body.
“You’ll stay with me for a while tonight.”
“Why?”
He plants his hands on either side of me, leaning down just enough so his chest touches the peaks of my nipples. “Because holding you in my arms is my favorite part.”
“Oh, Cross,” I whisper, my heart melting on the spot.
Wrapping my legs around his waist, I press my lips to his. He nips at my bottom lip, tugging it between his teeth. I can’t stop the moan that escapes my throat as I tilt my hips up to his.
His cock is at my opening, teasing me. It dips in, parting me with its girth before slipping back out again. He does this over and over, swiping at my swollen clit with each pass. His hands cup my breasts, kneading them in his coarse palms.
“I want to touch every inch of you,” he whispers, sliding his hands up my chest and across my collarbone. “I need every piece of you to remember it belongs to me.”
I whimper, trying to move as he slides into me.
“You’ve always been mine, just like I’ve always been yours.”
“Yes,” I eek out. “Gah!”
He slides inside me, almost like he teased himself too long, like he couldn’t wait a second longer to get inside me.
“I’m glad I didn’t bother asking if you were ready,” he says, closing his eyes as he sinks into me again. “So…damn…wet.”
His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat, a low guttural groan originating somewhere deep inside. I could almost get off just watching him enjoy me.
Dropping my knees wider, I roll my head to the side to allow him to bury his head in the crook of my neck. “You are so sexy,” he whispers through gritted teeth.
“Go deeper,” I pant, locking my heels around him. It puts me in a position I know he loves, an angle I know he can’t resist.
“God,” he groans, thrusting harder. “This feels so good.”
“So good.”
He kisses me at every possible point, doing just as he promised—touching me in every place he can. He holds my shoulders, pinches a nipple, cups the side of my face, the outside of my thigh, making every possible connection he can between us.
Up, up, up I go, pulled into a swirling state of bliss between the friction of his cock and the sweet words he whispers in my ear. It’s a heady mix, a complicated yet simple combination that is as irresistible as he is.
“Cross,” I pant, my legs shaking with the impending climax. “I can’t…you…”
My eyes squeeze shut with the force of the eruption that’s starting to build in the bottom of my belly. Like a slow-burning fire, the heat rolls out to the tops of my thighs, into my chest before radiating into my toes and the top of my head.
“Cross!”
He pounds me into harder, his breath whispering over my skin with each push. He mutters something under his breath, but I can’t make it out over my moans.
My body falls apart around him, my mind reeling with an influx of sensations. I feel him tense, his body shifting on top of me before he enters me hard and holds the position with the tip of his cock at the back of my pussy.
As he slips it back out and milks his orgasm, he flutters his eyes open. Instead of the lust I saw a few minutes ago, all I see now is something different, something soft…something I want to hold on to for a very long time.
He presses a soft kiss to my lips before pulling out and settling on the bed beside me. Pulling me into him, he nestles his face into my hair.
“I know you need to get up,” he whispers, kissing a spot just above my ear. “But give me a few seconds first, okay?”
As I drift off to sleep, I keep reminding myself to get up and go to the bathroom, but I don’t. This feels too good.
Ten
Cross
“Are you ready?” I ask.
Taking Kallie’s hand, I help her out of my truck. The wind moves little wisps of hair around her face as her feet hit the asphalt. She’s gorgeous in cutoff blue jeans and a plain, navy-colored T-shirt. Maybe it’s from the shirt—I don’t know, but the gray in her eyes almost looks blue tonight.
Her palm rests in mine, her skin soft and warm. I have half a notion to throw her back in the truck and take her home with me, but that’s not what tonight is about. Having her in my home, in my bed, for the last couple of days has been a dream come true. Tonight is about showing her how good we are together outside of the bed. Outside the gym. In front of all our friends.
“Are you sure about this?” she asks, looking up at Crave.
“Hell, yeah I’m sure about this.” I’m sure about a lot of things. I squeeze her hand tighter. “It’ll be fun.”
The door is pushed open from the inside and a couple exit. I usher Kallie in front of me as a stream of music and laughter fills our ears. My hand rests on the small of her back and I hope she takes it as a sign I’m here for her. In reality, it’s to sturdy myself.
My usual ability to stay calm despite the situation is gone. My fingers flex against the fabric of her shirt, my blood pounding through my veins. This is the one thing I’ve always wanted: my girl walking with me on a mundane Friday night.
Heads turn as we enter and shouts of “Hey, Kallie!” echo over the music. She waves at a few tables of people we know as if she just saw them yesterday. It’s as natural as the day is long and a smile tips my lips.
She reaches for my hand. I take it and then tug her, bringing her to a stop. Her back to my chest, I hover my lips near the shell of her ear.
“If you decide you want to leave,” I say, my arm going around her and my fingers splaying against her belly, “just say the word.”
Her head falls back to my chest as her perfume floods my senses. “Keep it up, bud, and we won’t get a chance to sit.” She presses her ass backward.
“Kal …” I growl before her giggle cuts me off.
“Behave, Cross.” She flips me a look before heading toward the bar. “Hey, Peck!”
Peck sets a bottle down in front of him and grins. “Hey, Kallie. I’d hug you but I don’t want to get knocked out.”
“Smart guy,” I say, helping Kallie onto a stool next to him before climbing on one myself. “What’s happening, Peck?”
“Not much. Just got off work and thought I’d come by and see what I can get into.”
“How was Walker today?” I ask.
“The usual.” He groans. “On the phone with Sienna. Watching Sienna’s ass when she comes in. Texting Sienna. Super fucking annoying.”
“Like that wouldn’t be you with Molly McCarter,” Machlan says, planting his palms on the bar.
Peck tips his bottle Machlan’s way. “One day it will be. One day.”
“Only if the universe hates you.” Machlan winks. Then he turns to Kallie. “Well, if this isn’t a sight for sore eyes.”