***
I stayed out with the motorcycle as Cash went in to pay for a room. It was a little hard for me to believe that I’d suggested this, and some of the fluttery butterflies that Cash always managed to summon had returned. I’d done it for two reasons. Only one was purely selfish. I needed to show Cash how much I trusted him. He’d shown a side last night that was frightening but not in the way he thought. The idea of him being so powerful, so damn terrifying and fearless, thrilled me. I felt completely safe with him. I knew he’d never hurt me. The opposite, in fact.
Cash walked out of the office with his impossibly broad shoulders and slightly beat-up face, and even in the cool breeze, heat rushed through me. I’d seen him dozens of times, but my heart raced as if I was seeing him for the first time. I reached into the saddle bag on his bike and pulled out the bag with the snacks, drinks and other supplies we’d bought for our motel room vacation.
The older woman behind the reception desk leaned over to get a look at both of us through the front window.
Cash glanced back at her and waved. She immediately busied herself behind the desk. “She didn’t look too happy about renting me a room.” He rubbed his hand over his short black hair. “I cut off my hair because I was out on the road for such long stretches. But I don’t think I got as many suspicious glares when my hair was long.”
I peered up at him. “I could see you in long hair. Of course, the short hair works too. I doubt there’s any length that would look bad on you. But I imagine it’s the cut on your chin and black eye that have her more alarmed than the lack of hair.”
He reached up and fingered the cut. “Yeah, I forgot about this beauty. Just what I needed— another damn scar.”
“Hey, do not underestimate the appeal of a hard won scar. In fact, since this was earned defending my honor, it will be especially hot to me.”
“Shit, sugar peanut, everything that comes out of that beautiful pair of lips makes me wish I’d known you my whole life.” He looked at the key on his palm. “Are you still up for this?”
“It was my idea, wasn’t it?”
He took the bag from my hand and I grabbed his free arm. We got to the room and stepped inside. He placed the snacks on the small table sitting in front of the window. It was a small cozy room with corny paintings, a floral bedspread with an upholstered headboard to match and the lingering smell of window cleaner.
I sat on the edge of the bed. “Just so you know, I’ve never been in a motel room with a guy before.”
He leaned against the table and popped open a beer.
I laughed. “And this is when you’re supposed to say that you’ve never taken a girl into a motel room before.”
His Adam’s apple moved up and down his throat as he sipped the beer. Everything he did stirred me physically, even swallowing. “I’ve never taken a girl into a motel room before.”
I shook my head. “That just didn’t sound very convincing.”
“No?” he asked. “Sorry, I’ve never been a good liar.”
I got up and walked over to him. I took the beer can from his hand and took a sip. “You should take your shirt off,” I suggested.
He looked down at his t-shirt. “Don’t you like it?”
I ran my fingers down his arm. “I like it just fine. Now take it off.” I’d never been this bold with a guy, but Cash wasn’t just any man. He oozed sensuality. He was big and dangerous and gloriously beautiful, and I ached for him to touch me.
He reached back and pulled the shirt off, not taking his eyes off me as he dropped it over the chair.
I stepped up next to him. “You are a man who should never wear a shirt. It is almost criminal to cover up this body.”
He moved his arms to touch me, but I took hold of his hands and lifted them up. I placed them behind his head. Every muscle in his arms and chest flexed as he kept his hands pressed behind his neck.
“I guess my wild, little hitchhiker is calling the shots.”
“Damn right,” I said with a smile. “Do you know how damn hot it is to see you standing here just waiting for me to touch you?” I ran my fingers along the hard ridges of his stomach and his chest lifted higher as he pulled in a breath. “And to kiss you.” I leaned down and my tongue trailed along the scar on his side. He sucked in his stomach at first and then relaxed against the feel of my mouth on his skin. He went to move his arms, but I waved a finger at him to stop. I stepped in front of him. He peered down at me as I opened the buttons on his fly. I pushed his jeans to his knees and realized too late that I’d forgotten to have him take off his boots.
He was smiling down at me. “I take it this is also the first time you’ve undressed a man.”
“Yes, and I just learned something important. Shoes first.”
Without withdrawing his hands from behind his head, he managed to use his feet to get off his boots. I slid the jeans down the rest of the way and he stepped out of them. He was like chiseled marble, smooth, hard, a fucking masterpiece. His long, thick cock stood erect, taunting me, making my pussy ache.
I stepped back. I slid off my sweatshirt and t-shirt. My nipples rubbed against my bra, wanting to be teased and touched. “Shit, Cash,” I said on a whisper, “I’m ready to climax just looking at you.” I moved closer. Waves of erotic heat rolled off of him, beckoning me to touch him. I kissed the hollow at the base of his throat and he swallowed hard. “I know you never planned to make the village your permanent home.” My throat tightened. “But don’t leave me yet. I’m just discovering what it’s like to have someone to daydream about, someone to think about every minute of the day, someone whose touch makes my knees weak and my head spin. I’m not ready to lose that yet. Stay with me for awhile, Cash. At least until I can work up the courage to say goodbye to you.”
He lowered his hands, grabbed hold of my arms and brought my mouth to his. He kissed me until I became like melted butter in his grip. My head felt light and my legs trembled beneath me. He pulled his mouth from mine.
“Unchained?” I asked breathlessly.
A small crease deepened next to his mouth. “I was picturing it more as a kiss that ended with me ripping off your panties, but that was a start.”
I smiled weakly and reached up to touch the cut on his chin. “All in good time, but I’m not done calling the shots yet.”
He sucked in a deep shuddering breath as I dropped to my knees in front of him. My fingers wrapped around his cock. It was hot and slick in my hand as I moved it along his erection, coaxing even more moisture from its tip. A low deep moan rained down on me as I pushed his cock into my mouth. He reached down and his fingers tangled in my hair as he held me over him. I pulled my lips along his cock and my tongue flicked the tip. The fingers on one hand stayed wrapped around the base of his cock while the other cupped his balls.
“Christ, Esme” he muttered as I tightened my lips around him. He pushed deeper, and his erection filled my mouth. His grip on my hair tightened as I gently caressed his balls. My mouth slid slowly back and forth over the tight skin of his cock, coating my tongue with salty moisture. The feel of him in my mouth and hands caused a hollow ache between my legs.
He grunted in frustration, and his hand loosened from my hair. He took hold of my arms. “No more, darlin’.”
Reluctantly, I released the hold I had on him. I peered up at him slightly disappointed. “Was I doing something wrong?”
He laughed. “No, that’s the problem.” He lifted me to my feet. The fierce hunger in his eyes made a breath catch in my chest. “I don’t want to end it yet.” He pulled me into his arms and pressed his mouth over my ear. “I want to be deep inside of you when I come.” His quiet words sent a shiver through me. He slid my bra straps down off my shoulders. He kissed my breasts as his hands unzipped my pants. Shoes once again thwarted our plan.
We stared down at my shoes and suddenly, he tossed me over his shoulder. I giggled uncontrollably as he carried me to the bed. He reached down, yanked the covers back and dropped me o
nto the mattress. I couldn’t stop laughing as he pulled off my shoes and tossed them behind him. They plunked off the wall and dropped to the floor. Then he reached down and shimmied my snug jeans off my legs and feet. He tossed them next to the shoes.
Feeling a bit self-conscious, I covered my breasts and curled onto my side. Now it was his turn to laugh. “Sweetheart, twenty seconds ago you were knelt in front of me with my cock in that luscious mouth of yours and now you’re playing the shy innocent?” He reached down and took hold of my hands. He moved me onto my back and lifted my arms above my head. He stood over me, big and indestructible. His gaze drifted brazenly over my body. “Spread your legs for me, darlin’. I want to see all of you.”
I opened my thighs. He knelt down between my legs. “God, Esme, you are so fucking beautiful. I’m so hard for you right now, it hurts.”
“Then take me, Cash. Please. Now.”
“Don’t move an inch,” he commanded. He got up and walked to the bag to retrieve a condom. Then he climbed back onto the bed and between my legs. Somehow he seemed even bigger as he leaned down over me. His mouth covered mine, and my tongue eagerly met his as his large hand slid beneath my naked bottom. He pushed my pussy higher as he slid inside of me. I moaned against his mouth as he filled me. He braced himself on one arm, so as not to smother me, and he lifted my pussy to his thrusting cock with the other hand. My legs went around his narrow waist and I clung to him, never wanting him to leave me. He adjusted the motion of his hips taking long dips up and inside of me, making contact with my taut clit with each movement. He knew exactly what I needed.
I reached up and grabbed his arms as he moved inside of me, reaching every intimate spot. “Cash,” I whispered, “yes, Cash.”
His patience and persistence was unbreakable. He continued, knowing that each thrust brought me closer to climax. Then he pushed my ass up higher and my legs tightened as he pushed inside of me again. My pussy tightened around him. “Cash!” I screamed.
My fingers dug into his shoulders as he kept the rhythm going. Then he drove deeper and harder into me. My pussy ached with each delicious penetration. His fingers dug into the flesh of my ass and he slammed into me again and again. The bed creaked and the headboard smacked the wall. “Fuck yeah,” he groaned. His face lifted and his eyes drifted shut as he came.
He collapsed down onto his side and pulled me into his arms. We lay there listening to the whir of cars zipping by on the highway and someone’s car radio somewhere in the motel parking lot.
I breathed in deeply. “Hmm, you smell so good.”
“That’s just me and soap and maybe a little beer.”
I smiled and ran my fingers along his throat. “Essence of Cash, if I could bottle it I could make a fortune, and I think the divorce rate in this country would drop dramatically.”
He laughed and rubbed his chin over the top of my head. “You are fucking adorable, you know that?”
I pressed my cheek against his chest. “I can hear your heart hopping around in there.”
He squeezed me. “I guess that’s a good thing. Heart slamming into the ribs— that’s what happens to a man who picks up a wild little hitchhiker.” He kissed my nose. “This was a good idea. I needed this.” He squeezed his arms around me. “I needed you.” He lifted my chin and ran his thumb across my bottom lip. “I’m going to be thinking about this mouth even more now, and I was already thinking about it a hell of a lot.” He looked at me. “But that’s only because I’m constantly thinking about you, Esme.”
Chapter 14
Cash
The blinking vacancy sign above the office, a lamppost in the small parking lot and the flickering clock on the cable box were the only sources of light. Esme slept soundly next to me with her mass of toffee-colored hair spread across the pillow, and her soft lips slightly parted. I climbed out of bed and walked to the window. There was just a sliver of an ocean view. The moon cast a ribbon of gold on the otherwise black water. Anywhere you stood in this town, you could smell the ocean and the salty breeze that came with it. It was part of what made this place awesome, the sea, the views and the unbelievable girl sleeping in the bed behind me.
Esme was a part of the equation I had never expected. I was going to stop here, earn some money, enjoy living near the sea and then continue my search for a place to belong. When she’d asked me to stay with her longer, my chest had tightened at the sound of her plea. The truth was, I felt the same about her. I had never had someone who I spent most of the day thinking about. I’d never had someone who I seemed to matter to. It had always been easier not to connect myself to anyone. Another part of my survival plan. And now I understood why. The thought of leaving her made my limbs and head feel heavy. Eventually, there would be no work for me here and no reason to stay at Ben’s, if Ben even wanted me to stay after last night’s drama. Once my job was done, I’d have no choice but to get on my bike and go. And because I’d be heading out with no real destination or prospects, there was no way I could take Esme with me.
I went to the bathroom and filled a glass with water. We’d spent the entire afternoon talking, laughing, eating mini doughnuts and chips and making love. Having her completely to myself was fucking awesome. I couldn’t get enough of her. And now standing naked in the hotel room, with her scent and touch lingering on my skin, I needed her again.
I finished the glass of water and tread quietly across the carpet. She hadn’t stirred and was sleeping so deeply, I felt a twinge of guilt about waking her. But I couldn’t deny myself her sweet body.
I leaned on an elbow and gazed down at her as she slept. I tugged the blanket down exposing her perfect breasts. Her nipples puckered in the cool air of the room and my cock hardened at the sight of them, standing taut and rosy, begging for me to kiss them. I lowered my mouth down to her and suckled her nipple. She mewled softly in her sleep, unsure of what was happening at first but then her long lashes fluttered open. She smiled up at me in the dark. “I thought I was dreaming.” Her voice was faint and sleepy and seductive.
“Dreaming of me, I hope.” My hand pushed beneath the blanket, and I slid it between her legs.
“Who else?” she moaned as my fingers stroked the folds of her pussy. Moisture instantly covered my fingers, and she parted her legs for me. My mouth continued caressing her breast as my fingers explored every intimate fold. She arched her back and pressed her nipples against my tongue as my fingers pushed deeper inside of her.
“Cash,” her voice drifted into the quiet darkness of the room, “every time you touch me, my whole body reacts.” She moved her hips against the pressure of my hand. “Yes, don’t stop,” she pleaded softly. Then her thighs squeezed shut, and she held my fingers tightly inside as she came. She relaxed her body and her breasts lifted and fell with each breath.
I grabbed a condom and as I sat back against the headboard to put it on, Esme pushed up to sitting. Her blue eyes were glossy wish sleep and the orgasm had covered her skin with a pink blush. She straddled my lap and kissed my face as she slid down over my cock. I pressed my face against her naked breasts and held her hips tightly, rocking her back and forth over me.
She reached up and took hold of the headboard and pulled herself up and down, taking in the full length of me each time and then drawing her tight pussy over my throbbing erection as she lifted back up. Her perfect slow rhythm and the snug, moist fit of her pussy coaxed me to the edge. “Darlin’, fuck yes,” I grunted as I held her tightly over me and my cock exploded inside of her.
She sighed contentedly and wrapped her arms around my head. I pressed my face against her soft, naked breasts. And as I breathed in the erotic scent of her and closed my eyes enjoying the feel of her wrapped around me, I wondered how the hell I was ever going to leave her.
Chapter 15
Cash
We’d left the motel early because Esme had dogs to walk. I’d coasted the bike down Ben’s street and into the driveway so as not to wake him. Then I’d crawled onto the bed in Hunter??
?s room and fallen asleep.
The clock said ten. Ben was moving about in the kitchen, and the aroma of strong coffee permeated the air. I knew his habits well enough to know he’d gotten up at six, walked to the pier to have coffee and donuts with his buddies and had returned and fallen fast asleep in his easy chair with the daily paper across his chest.
I hadn’t spoken to him since the fight with Clint. I got dressed and walked out to the kitchen. He looked up from his cup of coffee. “I brought a few donuts home.” He pointed to the pink box on the counter.
I was still feeling the shame of what I’d done and couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye.
“I was worried about you,” he said, and I thought about how strange it sounded to have someone say they were worried about me.
I sat down across from him with a donut. “Yeah, sorry about that. I just needed to get away for a little while. I’m really sorry about what happened the other night.”
“Sorry? The whole darn town should be thanking you for putting that boy in his place. He and that murderous looking fella who was with him have been conspicuously absent since you sent them the message that they weren’t welcome here.”
“It was one hell of a message, all right. I didn’t mean to—”
“I’ve seen and done my share of ugly too, Cash. When I came back from Vietnam—” He stared down at his cup. “There was no way to shake the images, the reality of what had happened over there. Then we got back here and it seemed we were suddenly out of place in our own country. The war had stirred up so much controversy, some of us felt as if we’d been shut out in the cold. All we’d done was our duty, the soldiering job we’d been told to do.” He sighed. “Lots of anger. Lots of disappointment. Just like you’re feeling right now, I didn’t know exactly where I belonged or if I’d ever be comfortable in my own skin again.” His chair creaked as he sat forward. “You know, son, just because the world has treated you badly in your first twenty-five years doesn’t mean that that same world can’t redeem itself at some point. Let things go well for you for a change. I promise it won’t hurt.” The familiar lines around his eyes and mouth deepened with his grin.