Stout

  Fuck. She’s straddling my face.

  “I think you know what you were doing to make me come.”

  She’s on her knees, but too far away for me to lick, so I dig my fingers into her ass and force her to come down over my mouth. I lick once. Twice. Three times. “I love the way you taste. And smell.”

  I tickle her clit with my tongue as I wrap my arm around her thigh. My fingers glide through her slick slit from behind no problem. She rocks her hips in a back and forth motion against my mouth. Her body shudders and a moan is released when my tongue works her in a circular motion. “Omigod, you do some awesome things with that mouth.”

  There is nothing on earth like this. Pleasing Adelyn. Hearing her moans. Licking her until she comes.

  I alternate the suction and release of her clit until she arches her back and cries out. “Oh God! Right there. Just like that.” Her body spasms around my fingers in a rhythmic pattern at least a dozen times. One sign of a good orgasm. Another is her calling out my name.

  And she does.

  She goes lax and I know my girl is in post-orgasmic bliss. “As good as the dream?”

  “Even better. But we’re nowhere near done. There was so much more to my dream.”

  “Oh.” I don’t hate that.

  She grabs behind my neck and summons me to move with her. She lies on her back and pulls me on top, between her legs. “We were like this.”

  She kisses my lips and then moves her mouth over my jawline and down my neck. She nibbles the skin, lightly sucking on it.

  “I need to get a condom before we get rolling too fast here.” Except I don’t have any. I left my supply at Adelyn’s house the night we fucked at her place. “Son of a bitch.”

  She groans when I pull away. “What’s wrong?”

  “Fuck. No condoms.”

  “Oh.”

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “I guess I’m getting dressed and making a rubber run next door.”

  “You may think I’m nuts but I sorta-kinda-wanna say fuck the condom.” She sucks her bottom lip as she runs her hands over my shoulders and down my chest. She grasps my cock and pumps it a few times. “I want you inside me right now. I don’t want to wait.”

  She’s offering herself to me. Wholly. And it’s tempting as fuck.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m very sure.” She parts her legs wide, giving me full access to her body. “I’m yours. Every part of me. If it’s what you want.”

  IF it’s what I want? How the fuck can she think it isn’t what I want? “I do.”

  She positions my cock at her entrance and I enter slowly. Deeply. Pure heaven. “Fuck, Max. I didn’t know it would feel this good.”

  I move slowly.

  Want this to go on forever.

  Don’t want to come. Not right now.

  I want to be between Adelyn’s legs all day.

  May miss lunch with the family.

  I grasp behind her thighs and push her legs back and apart. I continue to move in and out of her without hurry because the position is so intense. “Does this feel good for you?”

  “Mmm-hmm. I love the way you feel inside me.”

  “Tell me what you want. I’ll give it a try.” She’s silent. I think too nervous to say the words. “Show me; I want to.”

  I lower my upper body and rest my weight on one arm so I’m able to free the other. She wraps her hand around my wrist and moves it to her neck. “Cup your hand around the side of my neck but don’t press on the front of my airway.” She puts her hand on top of mine. “Apply gentle pressure on the side this time so you can get a feel for it.”

  I thrust in and out while my hand holds her neck. And it doesn’t feel at all like what I imagined. It’s so much better.

  She’s giving all of herself to me and submitting to my control.

  It’s hot as fuck. Erotic.

  Adelyn was right. This has nothing to do with cutting off her airway or hurting her. I wonder if this is like collaring? I’ve read a lot about that, how it brings your woman pleasure.

  This is about claiming her as mine. Taking care of her needs. Being the strong alpha man she wants, but with gentle hands.

  And making her come hard.

  Adelyn closes her eyes as she tilts her hips. I know what she’s doing. Positioning so my dick will hit her in that sensitive area beneath her pelvic bone. I’m hitting it. I see it on her face.

  I thrust with fierce domination. “You are mine, Max. No one else’s.”

  I feel the onset of my orgasm. I slow my speed in hopes of prolonging the pleasure but it’s too late. I’m too fucking turned-on by what we’re doing to not detonate.

  I hold her in place and thrust deep as I explode inside her. Coming. So hard.

  This surpassed any and all of my expectations.

  She smiles when I release my hold on her neck. Because she’s perfectly fine. Completely unharmed. And utterly happy.

  We both are.

  I rub my fingers down the side of her neck. The pulse I feel beneath my fingers is beating so hard.

  Adelyn pushes away the fallen hair covering my forehead and eyes. “See?”

  I trace my fingertips over her neck. “It doesn’t leave bruises? Or marks on your skin?”

  “It does if you applied enough pressure.” Hell, no. I’m not having that.

  “Did I squeeze hard enough to mark you?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  She seems convinced but I’m not. I need to see the proof for myself. “Your skin is so fair. I’m already wondering if I’ve marked you.” I stretch toward the nightstand and turn on the lamp so I can inspect her body. “Everyone can see your neck. I don’t want it to ever wear the evidence of what we do behind closed doors. I won’t have people wondering if I abuse you.”

  “I’m fine, Thorn. You haven’t bruised me.”

  “I need to be sure.” The last thing I need is Mom seeing my handprint around Adelyn’s throat when we have lunch today. She would have a conniption.

  I hold her chin and turn her face from side to side for inspection. “I think we’re good. I don’t see anything.”

  “Because there isn’t anything there to see. You barely squeezed at all. It was nothing more than a gentle hold.” She cups the side of my face with her hand. “And I loved it. You made me feel like I’m yours.”

  Adelyn is mine. Mine to own. Mine to protect. And maybe, one day, mine to love.

  “I liked it too but you have to promise you’ll tell me if I’m ever doing it hard enough to discolor your skin.”

  Both of her hands cup my face. “I will. Swear.”

  She kisses me quickly before getting up. “Be right back.”

  When she returns from the bathroom, Adelyn turns off the lamp and climbs over me. “Let’s get a little more sleep.”

  She turns so her back presses against my front. Spooning.

  And I don’t hate it.

  I love it.

  Adelyn Maxwell

  Lawrence is teaching me how to make her special guacamole. She says it’s Oliver’s favorite. Or at least his favorite vegetarian option when she’s in charge of cooking.

  I look up from the avocado I’m cutting to find all female eyes on me. “Is this not how you want it done?” I’m no amateur in the kitchen but this is the only way I know to do it.

  “Go on, Law. Ask her while all the dicks are out of the kitchen,” Ivy says. Gotta love the things coming out of that girl’s mouth.

  Lawrence looks in the direction of her living room and then back at me. “We know you and Ollie are doing it but we want to know if y’all are just fuck buddies or for real dating?”

  I’m not sure which surprises me more. The part where Lawrence said fuck buddies in front of her mom or that Mrs. Thorn didn’t bat an eyelash when she heard that come out of her daughter’s mouth.

  Wow. This is uncomfortable. Oliver’s mom is standing in front of me, waiting to hear if I’m her son’s girlfriend or the girl next door he screws when he’s
horny.

  Rachel Maxwell would die if this conversation were happening in front of her. But I’m learning the Thorn household isn’t anything like the Maxwell’s. I still giggle when I think about Mrs. Thorn saying Mr. Thorn would probably get lucky after calling her his beautiful girl. And the things Oliver said about them going at it like teenagers. Adorable.

  I know Oliver isn’t exaggerating. Only an hour ago, I saw Mr. Thorn smack Oliver’s mom on the bottom when he thought no one was looking. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything to Oliver since he says they embarrass him. But I thought it was cute.

  Is that what my life with Oliver might be like at that age after being married thirty-five years? Can’t say I’d mind if it were.

  Ivy uses her palms to demonstrate a balance. One goes up while the other goes down and then vice versa. “So what is it, Adelyn? Fuck buddies or dating?”

  Oliver and I haven’t given it a label, but we agreed to try a relationship. And he called me his girlfriend. He wouldn’t have done that if we were fucking and parting ways. “We’re dating.”

  A proud-big-sister smile spreads on Lawrence’s face. “You can’t imagine how happy that makes me.”

  “How happy that makes us.” Mrs. Thorn’s smile rivals Lawrence’s.

  And they can’t imagine how happy their joy makes me.

  I’m not accustomed to this kind of warmth. Martin’s mother hated me. She was old and bitter and jealous. She viewed me as competition for her son’s affection, which was always super creepy. And his sister was just indifferent. She looked at me like I was some kind of insignificant twit who was after her brother’s money.

  “Tell us how it happened.”

  Umm, yeah. I won’t be doing that. “We started hanging out right after Oliver moved next door. We became fast friends. And then the friendship turned into a flirtationship but things didn’t click into place until last week.”

  “I think it’s great you were friends first,” Kelsey says.

  “My parents came to visit earlier this week. They can’t make it to Birmingham often because it’s such a long drive. Oliver wanted to meet them and be introduced as the man in my life.” They’re all wearing the same stunned expression.

  “That’s a huge move on Stout’s part. It says a lot about his intentions.” I hope Ivy’s right. The man is incredible. His fury last night, although frightening at the time, was beautiful. He was beautiful. So genuinely agonized by what Martin had done to me. How could I not be completely captivated?

  “It especially says a lot when he insists on meeting your father who is a Southern Baptist preacher.”

  “Wow. Stout is dating a preacher’s daughter.” Ivy looks amused.

  “He wasn’t at all scared off by my daddy being a preacher. He even survived his Adelyn-was-raised-in-the-way-of-the-Lord talk.”

  “Oliver hasn’t entered this relationship halfheartedly. My son is going in headfirst.” Same as me. “How did meeting your parents go?”

  “They liked Oliver very much. They were very impressed.” Totally different scenario with Martin. They didn’t care for him at all. My daddy would have had a heart attack had he known we were living together outside the boundaries of marriage.

  “Ollie went through a bit of a rough patch after his last girlfriend. He hasn’t been interested in anything more than . . . very short-term relationships.” Lawrence is politely referring to all of his one-night stands.

  “He’s been very honest about his almost-fiancée and his life after their breakup.” Oliver has told me all about his wild streak.

  “It’s been three years and you’re the first woman he’s had any interest in dating. You can’t imagine how happy I am about this. I really want it to work out.”

  “Me too. I like Oliver.” A lot. I think we could be really good together.

  I have almost everything I could desire. A successful job. A fine car. A beautiful place to live. But four years is a long time to come home to an empty house.

  I want more. I’m ready for more.

  A man who’s interested in sharing a life together. Maybe a husband. Maybe a father for children.

  I could see Oliver fitting into all three of those roles.

  “I found happiness, and I want that for my brother too.” Lawrence lights up when her husband comes into the kitchen. “And right here is the source of my happiness.”

  I can see why Lawrence would be happy. Tap treats her well. He’s so loving. And he is one good-looking Cajun.

  But Oliver is hotter.

  “I like walking in on conversations where I hear I’m the source of your happiness.” Tap kisses the side of Lawrence’s face. So damn sweet. “But you know you’re mine too, babe.”

  They’re such a cute couple.

  “You got volunteered to make the beer run?”

  “Yes I did, wife. And Stout volunteered me to check on the guacamole.”

  “Tell him five minutes. Adelyn is cutting the avocados right now. And tell him I’m showing her how to make it just the way he likes it. Extra lime and cumin.”

  “You got it, babe.”

  These are the people Oliver is closest to. And they have made me feel so welcome in their circle. Everything about them is so honest and open. I feel like I can be me. The real me. Not the person who puts on a front and lies to hide my blatant sins from Rachel and Michael Maxwell.

  It’s incredibly clear how much Oliver loves his family. And I can’t help but find that sexy and wonderful. Who wouldn’t want a man who loves and treats his family well? It’s a direct reflection of how I could expect him to treat and love me.

  I return to cutting avocados so my man can have his chips and guac. “Master the guacamole and you’ll win his heart for sure. He loves that stuff.”

  “I think Adelyn’s well on her way to winning his heart regardless. I know what I saw last night. He’s quite smitten with you. I’ve never seen him that way with a woman before. You’re special to him.” I love hearing how confident she is. Moms know.

  “I hope so. Because he’s very special to me.”

  Everything about our relationship feels like it has been put into forward motion. My thoughts. My feelings. My expectations.

  I’m dancing around the words but it doesn’t make them any less true.

  I’m falling in love with Oliver Thorn.

  * * *

  I get off Oliver’s motorcycle and remove my helmet. “That was fun. I’m glad we decided to take the bike.” I’ve wanted to ride again since the day he took me to the brewery.

  “I’ll take you cruising anytime you want.”

  I lower the zipper of my leather riding jacket. “If we make a habit of this, I’m going to need my own jacket. This one squeezes my boobs so tight I can hardly breathe.”

  “Lucky jacket.”

  “Don’t be jealous. I’ll let you squeeze my boobs whenever you like.”

  “That’ll be hard to do if you’re at your place and I’m at mine.” I don’t want to be apart tonight but I’m not sure it’s a good idea to push for another sleepover. It may be better to let Oliver make that proposal.

  “What do you suggest we do about that?”

  “I want you to stay with me tonight.” I’m relieved he isn’t asking me over for sex and then kicking me to the curb.

  “I would like that very much but I need to go home and get a few things first.”

  “Doable. Want me to go with you?”

  The obsessed if-I-can’t-have-you-no-one-will look in Martin’s eyes comes to mind. He intended on having me one way or another. I’m not sure being in Oliver’s chokehold changed his mind about that.

  I hate feeling like a frightened rabbit. But I’m scared to go alone. “I think I’d feel more at ease if you went with me.”

  “I know I’d feel better if I went with you. Just in case.”

  I have no worries about Oliver’s ability to protect me. He easily overpowered Martin. He literally held his life in his hands. In the crook of his arm to b
e exact. That doesn’t go unnoticed. And the irony isn’t lost on me.

  Oliver Thorn is slowly capturing my heart with his concern for my safety. I’ve never felt that before.

  I’m not as shaken as I pack my bag this time. I even feel a little playful.

  I open my nightstand drawer and remove the box of condoms Oliver left at my house. “Should I pack these?”

  He comes to me, takes the box from my hand, and slings it across the room. “Woman, you have ruined me forever. I will never voluntarily put one of those things on again.” He leans in and kisses that spot below my ear before reaching into my drawer and taking out my bullet. “But this, on the other hand, you should definitely pack. I can think of all kinds of fun uses for it.”

  My new black lace lingerie set, Oliver’s birthday gift, is still lying on the bed. “And this? Want your belated birthday gift tonight?”

  “So fucking much I’m well on my way to tenting my pants.”

  “It’s a little early for that.”

  “No one says we have to wait until tonight. Don’t forget my birthday was yesterday.”

  He kisses down my neck and slides his hand up my shirt. He palms my breast and thumbs my nipple, making it hard. “True but since we missed celebrating it on the actual day, I would like to take the time to make it special for you.”

  He kisses my shoulder and lightly sucks my skin into his mouth. “You have no idea how badly I want to toss you across the bed and convince you we need to fuck right now. I could talk you into it, you know? You taught me how to do that.”

  It probably wouldn’t take much persuasion. “Yes. That’s what an alpha would do but a good alpha recognizes what is important to his partner.” I point to my lace ensemble. “And wearing that for you is important to me.”

  “I’m sure you’d look beautiful in it. But I like you wearing nothing pretty well too. And if I take these clothes off you that’s what I’ll find underneath them.”

  He is such a man. “Thorn. It will be worth the wait. I will be worth the wait. Promise.”