Page 19 of Sheltering Lily

“This is just right,” she said, her hands stroking my hair. “Make love to me, Colin.”

I hooked two fingers under the elastic of her thong and pulled it down so she could step free of it. Then I lifted her onto the bed before stripping off the rest of my clothing. She watched, her eyes going to my erection when I shed my boxer shorts. A little smile appeared on her face. I wanted to touch and taste every inch of her. And I would, I promised myself, knowing this was just the beginning of the night.

I reached in the nightstand drawer for a condom, tossing the foil package onto the bed.

“I hope you have more of those.” She stretched her arms over her head and spread her legs a little, and my dick hardened even more. But I smiled, too, knowing that she had some temptress in her.

“What are you suggesting?” I climbed onto the bed, placing my knees on either side of her legs and kneeling over her. With one finger, I drew lazy circles around her breasts, over her stomach, to the apex of her thighs. Her eyes closed when I stroked her wet clit and slipped my finger inside her. Her thighs widened, letting me add a second finger. Pleasure flitted across her face.

“So good,” she murmured, “but I want you inside me.”

When she opened her eyes, I could have been lost in their hazel depths. I saw desire, a little deviltry, and something else I couldn’t identify. She grinned and reached for the condom package, ripping it open. Reaching for me, she stroked her fingers over the length of my dick and rubbed her thumb over the tip.

“Later, I want to suck you,” she whispered, sending a powerful jolt of lust through me. The thought of Lily’s mouth on me nearly made me come.

I had to grit my teeth to maintain my self-control when she rolled the condom on me. As soon as that was done, I pushed her to the mattress. Wasting no time, I thrust into her, kissing her at the moment our bodies joined. My tongue wrangled with hers as I pushed deep into her velvety heat.

Her legs wound around me, giving me more of her, opening herself completely to me. She kept pace with me as I built the rhythm between us. I broke from her mouth to kiss her neck and breasts, increasing the tension as I neared my climax. She moaned, stroking my back and whispering my name. Knowing she was close, I slipped a hand between us and swiped my finger across her swollen clit, sending her into an orgasm. She clung more tightly to me, her insides throbbing around me, until I came, my ecstasy lasting longer than it ever had before.

Our eyes met. Hers were languid and satisfied, but I read in them what I felt inside. This was more than an attraction, more than casual sex.

“I’m glad you’re such a good kisser,” she said, making me chuckle.

I rolled onto the bed next to her, but I couldn’t stop touching her. My hands roamed over her body, giving comfort instead of feeding need, until I heard her breathing steady into sleep. I got up and disposed of the condom. When I returned to bed, she curled into me. Happily, I wrapped my arms around her and went to sleep.

9

LILY

Ipulled on a knit skirt and ran a brush through my hair. I had five minutes before I needed to get into the main part of the house so Colin could leave for work. His job had kept him away from me throughout the week—which was good, I rationalized, because we both needed some distance from what happened the previous Saturday.

Sleeping with him had been incredible. I’d shocked myself with my own forwardness when I’d taken charge during our second round of lovemaking. The memory of what I had done made me blush. I’d gone down on him, bringing him right to the edge before he’d flipped me on my back and used his incredible body to please me.

I was happy to be dominated, knowing that I could exert my will over him with a touch of my hand or flick of my tongue and that he’d stop instantly if I said the slightest word. It was gratifying, but it had ended too quickly when his phone rang at four in the morning. There was some kind of emergency at work. He’d left the bed immediately, showered, and been out the door in ten minutes with only a brush of his lips against my cheek. No soft words or promises about what came next.

Because nothing did. I stuffed items I’d want for the outing I had planned with Sofia for that day into a backpack. Colin and I weren’t suited, a fact we both knew. Whatever was between us couldn’t possibly be more than a fling, which was why neither of us had broached the subject in the six days since then. Of course, I’d hardly seen him. He came home for a few hours here and there to get fresh clothes, see Sofia, and take a quick nap before heading back out. In those brief encounters, we’d exchanged not one personal word, making it clear what happened changed nothing about our relationship.

It was easier that way, I concluded as I locked my door. Since I didn’t know how to address the elephant in the room, it was better to avoid it. Colin clearly was. He had another date scheduled for that night, again with someone I knew. I had to admit that stung. Apparently, our night together wasn’t worth even a one-week hiatus from dating. It wasn’t as if I expected him to be exclusive with me—not when we weren’t even dating—but it still hurt a little.

I stopped on the walk, mustering my bravado and reminding myself that Colin and I had no future. He and Sofia deserved someone who would stay and fulfill the role of wife and mother, which would be so much better for both of them than having a nanny in their lives.

When my phone pinged, I dug it from my pocket, using the message as an excuse not to face Colin. He’d be in the kitchen, having breakfast with Sofia before leaving for work. I glanced at the display and read the message from Samantha.

Colin canceled. What’s up with that?

A tingle went through me, but I told myself the canceled date meant nothing. He was probably working or too tired from the incredibly busy week he’d had.

No idea. Sorry.

I sent the message back, feeling a little guilty about my false apology. I wasn’t sorry at all that the date was a no go. I did feel bad that I’d arranged it and talked up Colin’s qualities to Samantha. As jealous as I’d been of her only minutes before, I did consider her a friend, and I didn’t like the thought of her being disappointed. But if Colin had canceled the date because work interfered, then he’d probably make it up to her later. I didn’t bother mentioning that to her, though.

When I pushed open the kitchen door, two sets of eyes turned to me. One dark and excited, the other intense blue and unreadable. I forced a smile and walked to Sofia’s high chair, dropping a kiss on the girl’s head.

“Waffles, yum,” I commented, surprised Colin had taken the time to make them. “Good morning.” I assessed him, noting his casual attire. Jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Not what he wore to work. “Are you off today?”

“The project finished up late last night,” he explained.

“Oh,” I said, confused. “So why did you break the date with Samantha? She just texted me.”

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