Page 26 of The Darkest Knight

Yes, these thoughts and feelings were definitely a mystery.

Seth shifted in the seat and it squeaked loudly. This was no place for his zipper to stretch. An attraction could make things messy, and he didn’t like messy. He didn’t need an upheaval in his calm life. And yet, he was glad she’d be sticking around for a while. It perplexed him.

There was nothing wrong with getting to know her better. Unlike most people, they understood the darkness in life. His instincts warned him he needed to tread carefully and keep his mind on track and his zipper zipped, but it was fine that they became friends. She’d be the perfect one to understand who he was and where he’d been, at least to a certain extent.

Satisfied that he could keep his attraction under cover, he popped the last bite of burger into his mouth and swallowed it down with his shake. “You ready?” He felt a little confined in the seat.

“Sure.”

*****

Reese swiped her hand through the condensation on the bathroom mirror and stared at her reflection. Once she’d gotten home from town, Seth headed to his cabin and she’d puttered around her’s, dusting, cleaning the fridge, and doing dishes. None of these chores needed done because she’d already done them every day since she’d arrived, but she had a restless oomph. She’d never felt this…aware. Never felt so energized.

Grabbing the brush from the sink, she pulled it through her damp locks while her thoughts turned to Seth. A lot of people struggled with why they put up walls and couldn’t have a relationship, but she knew the reasons why she tended to pull away from any attraction toward a man, even soldiers who would understand more than anyone about her deep-rooted feelings. Her nightmares, fortunately, had stabilized and she slept better now than she had in months, but there was always that chance they would reoccur. Then there were the seizures. Those too had gotten better, but the likelihood of having more in the future existed. It would be too easy to allow herself to rely on a man to take care of her, be her very own soldier who watched her in those times of need, but what happened when, or if, that relationship ended? How would she get back on her own feet after relying on another? Falling in love? And probably the most upsetting, what about children? Usually when two people loved one another, marriage and children were the next natural step. Although having children wasn’t off the table, she would have to be certain no harm would come of the baby if she had a seizure.

Whoa, she was getting ahead of herself. She’d never thought so far into the future and it was a little scary. This all sparked from how she responded to Seth when he was near. He made her think beyond the moment. He was aloof and withdrawn, but today he’d opened up more, showing her another side of him. He looked at her like he wanted to talk to her, maybe kiss her. She hadn’t felt this feminine in so long she couldn’t remember. It felt nice…real. Practicality when it came to clothes was always what she chose, never picking something revealing. While she was dating Brandon, she would get all dolled up on occasion if they were going out, but the second she stepped foot back into the apartment, she had her cami and jammies on. She wasn’t against looking seductive and sexy, just she didn’t concentrate on it.

For the last few years her attentiveness had been on managing her life, getting better and enjoying Abby.

Tonight, she would be accompanying Seth to the Mountain Mug. Of course, it wasn’t a ‘date’, but she couldn’t deny she wanted to look pretty. After all, he was a man who sent her libido into an uproar. He was not only built like a Greek God, but his mystery reminded her of a secret package, and she couldn’t wait to rip in to it. She laughed and it echoed off the wall. He was buff and toned, and his longish hair that touched his collar welcomed the tangling of curious, exploring fingers. He’d grown a thin beard again, and she wondered what it would feel like against her skin. Rasping her inner thighs.

Holy Moly, it had been so long since her mind had been so sexually active that it threw her for a loop, and yet, it felt nice. Having suffered in the past didn’t make her unwomanly. She craved touching, kissing, making love like the next person. Truly, it wasn’t a clever idea to have a strong desire for the man who controlled her future, her shelter, and could say goodbye to her without provocation—except for a contract that stated if things failed, he’d pay the compensation of a year of wages. Yet she couldn’t help but think that Seth wouldn’t send her packing unless she gave him reason.

Thoughts of him sent a warm, toasty sensation through her body, lodging between her inner thighs. Time had passed since she’d been with a man intimately. She’d always had a healthy sex drive. Indeed, making love was the best medicine for all issues. She drifted her hand down her chest, still moist from the shower, touching her hard nipples and tweaking the sensitive buds. Continuing the path down her stomach, once she reached her most sensitive spot, she closed her eyes, sighing. Picturing Seth’s hand exploring her body, she dipped her fingers through her damp core, the skin reminding her of silk, perplexed by how wet and ready she was with only her imagination at work. She couldn’t recall ever bringing her body to this point alone, ever having a strong need nestled in her center. Her pulse was dancing under her skin.

She envisioned herself stretching out on Seth’s bed, her breasts swollen and aching, her nipples hard and puckered while watching him undress in front of her. A private strip tease. Once he was naked, he’d surely take hold of his impressive cock, stroking himself, teasing her. The heat in her crux would draw her fingers to her most sensitive part and she would open her legs wide, stroking herself—following his rhythm.

Her folds dripped of dew now as she imagined that she could hear his ragged moan and raspy voice, whispering, “You’re so beautiful, baby.” He would whisper more sweet words, telling her how he couldn’t wait to take her, to stroke her creamy insides into orgasm. Once he joined her in bed, he would flick his wide finger across her clit, turning the flesh into a swollen bundle as their moans entwined.

She dropped her cheek to her shoulder, allowing the exotic fantasy to snowball. Welcoming her body to give in to the desire filling her muscles.

With her free hand, she clutched the cold sink, holding on for dear life as climax built into a storm within her, quickly and without mercy. Taking her prisoner. As she fondled and fingered herself, working through the thickening juices, a delicious feeling rushed through her. Reese imagined Seth pumping her faster until his release flowed within her.

Overcome with a pulsing need, her muscles tightened while the orgasm ascended the invisible mountain, spasm after delicious spasm assaulting her body until her legs weakened and her heart beat so fast she thought it might blast from her chest.

Lost in the moment, it took her several breaths before she finally removed her hand from her slit and pushed herself away from the sink, gaining her equilibrium. A full sensation remained between her thighs as a reminder that she’d achieved release, but she hadn’t managed complete satisfaction. Only the touch of a man could ease that desire.

Heading into the outer room, she was a little wobbly until she dropped down onto the full-sized bed and stretched out, dragging the sheet over her bare hips. She’d become accustomed to treating herself to orgasms, as sad as that was now that she thought about it. However, she’d always used well-known figures to help her find release, like movie stars or a model in a magazine, but never someone she could reach out and touch—or make love to in real life. Again, she was going a hundred miles per hour in a twenty zone. Seth, although he’d noticed her, didn’t seem interested in making her fantasies come true...or did he? He looked at her today with warm eyes and smile.

Reese pushed thoughts of her sexy boss from her mind and pondered what she would wear tonight. While in town today, she’d come across a country boutique and stopped in. Instantly falling in love with the pretty, rustic look of the clothes. With tonight in mind, she’d bought herself a sky blue simple sundress that the salesperson told her would bring out her eyes.

What would Seth think of the dress?

She might never experience any of her fantasies with him, but she could daydream, and yet that was all it could ever be. One person with a flawed history was horrible, but two people together with issues would be a train wreck. And now that she was working as his employee only made things messier.

So, she’d continue to dream about being flung down on a bed, stripped of her clothing, and made love to by a sexy, muscled soldier.

While she dressed, brushed her hair until it shone, and applied a bit of mascara and lip tint, she reminded herself that she could imagine Seth tossing her onto the bed and making love to her as much as she wanted, but that’s where it ended.

Yet when the knock came on the door and at Seth’s voice, “Reese?”, her heart picked up speed and all restraint she thought she had washed straight down the drain. All just from the sound of his thick, husky voice. The man had mystical powers.

“I’ll be right there,” she called through the door.

Pacing the floor, she demanded that she get herself under control before she opened the door and did something really stupid—something terrifyingly erotic. Throwing herself into his arms would only make her out as a fool. Finally unlatching the chain, she opened the door with a casual smile on her face, but the butterflies were having a field day in her stomach. “Hey, Seth.” Her attempt at sounding calm and collected failed miserably. Her voice came out as a squeak.

“Hi, Reese.”

“What’s going on?” She leaned into the doorjamb, cursing those damn quivers between her legs.

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