Page 67 of Further To Fall

He cleared his throat again. “No problem. Well, I’ll let you get some sleep.” Austin made a hasty retreat, and I couldn’t hold in the soft giggle. I walked over the bed to see what he’d left me. A t-shirt that was worn baby soft…yeah, he was never getting that back. A pair of boxers. And sweatpants that looked like I would drown in them.

I slipped on the boxers and t-shirt, abandoning the sweats, and then went in search of a hairdryer. I found that and a brush in a drawer in the bathroom. I did a quick blow-dry while Blue shot me sorrowful looks. He hated the hairdryer and vacuum cleaner, usually bolting when I turned on either, but tonight, he was determined to stay by my side.

Switching off the hairdryer, I scratched Blue under his chin. “What a sweet boy you are.” I could swear he grinned. Slipping my phone and charger from my purse, I thanked my lucky stars that my bag had been in the living room and had escaped the intruder’s wrath. I had a missed call and text from Ford, wanting to see if I was okay and asking if I needed anything. Liam or Austin must have looped him in on what had happened. I shot him a quick text back, letting him know I was fine and slipped beneath the covers. The sheets were butter-soft. I let out a sigh. Heaven. I patted the mattress, and Blue leapt up, burrowing into a spot right next to me. I shut off the light and fluffed my pillow.

As soon as I shut my eyes, my mind was filled with images of red writing and clothing torn to shreds. My eyelids popped back open, and I stared at the ceiling. Clearly, I wasn’t quite tired enough. I rubbed a hand over Blue’s fur, and he let out a contented snore, no trouble sleeping for him. For the next hour, I tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable. Then I started to think that I heard things outside, only to realize it was nothing. I was beginning to crack up.

Giving up, I threw back the covers, startling Blue into a standing position. “Sorry, baby,” I said. “Want to go sleep with Austin?” Blue cocked his head to the side as if considering. “Come on.” I patted my thigh, and he jumped from the bed.

I slowly opened the bedroom door and listened. No sounds came from across the way or the rest of the house. I bit my lip. Austin was probably already asleep. Tiptoeing across the hall, I knocked faintly on the door. Hearing nothing, I nibbled on my lip a little more. Should I just go in? Knock harder? Call his cell?

The door swung open, and there stood Austin in black boxer briefs, eyes groggy from sleep. Holy hell, he was hot. I slowly looked up from his six-pack and the dusting of hair that disappeared beneath his waistband. “Everything okay?” His voice was gruff, only adding to the overall sexiness of the image. Good Lord, someone help me.

“I couldn’t sleep.” My voice sounded just a little squeaky. “Do you think I could sleep with you? I promise not to molest you or anything.”

Austin grinned at that. “Of course, you can.” He stepped aside and pointed to the bed. “Get in, and I’ll go get the dog bed.” Before I could tell him that I let Blue sleep with me, he was gone. He quickly reemerged, dog bed in tow. Austin set it down next to my side of the bed and then circled around to climb under the covers. He paused just as he was about to turn off the light and glanced from me to a forlorn-looking Blue, who sat expectantly at the side of the bed. Austin’s eyes came back to me. “You let him sleep in the bed, don’t you?”

I sent him my most angelic smile. “I don’t want him to be lonely.”

Austin groaned. “He’s not sleeping in my bed. Blue, go to your bed.” He pointed at the dog bed. Blue whined. “Blue…” Austin had the perfect I’m-serious dad face going on, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Blue huffed but settled into his bed. Austin clicked off the light. “See, you just have to be the alpha.”

“Mm-hmm,” I mumbled, still trying not to laugh.

“Come here, Firecracker.” Austin pulled me into his body, positioning my back to his front. Something very large and hard pressed between my butt cheeks, but I tried not to think about it. “Think you can sleep now?”

I squirmed a little. “Yeah.”

“Okay, sweet dreams.” He kissed the side of my neck and squeezed me a little closer to him. I let out a slow breath and closed my eyes, but as soon as I did, I was bombarded by the same images. My muscles clenched, and my eyes flew open. “What’s wrong?” Austin asked.

“Every time I close my eyes, I see my wrecked bedroom. It’s like I can’t get it out of my head.”

Austin had started drawing circles on my lower stomach as soon as I tensed up. Now, his fingers were trailing lower, and my body tightened for a whole other reason. “How about I give you something else to think about, okay?”

“Okay,” I whispered. My voice suddenly sounded husky. Austin’s fingers slipped below the band of the boxers I was wearing, and I sucked in a breath. He trailed his fingers lightly through the dusting of hair I had and then lower. My legs automatically opened slightly as if he were controlling them himself.

He slipped a finger between my lips and groaned in my ear. “You’re already wet. So responsive.” He dipped a finger inside, and my lower belly tightened. “God, you’re so tight. I can’t wait to be inside you.” My core clenched at his words. “You like that idea?”

“Mm-hmm.” It was all I could get out.

He bit down lightly on my neck. “Not tonight, but soon.” Austin continued to work his finger in and out of me. My body felt like it was winding up, growing tauter, like I would snap with one wrong move—but in the most delicious way. I moaned as he added another finger. There was a slight burning sensation that melted quickly into intensity. He trailed his thumb through the wetness that had trickled out of my opening and brought it to my clit. I gasped as he circled the bundle of nerves, making smaller and smaller circles as he pumped his fingers in and out of me.

All of a sudden, I was spiraling down. I cried out as I clutched the sheets, breathing hard. Austin slowed his movements as I rode the wave of sensations, then he eased his fingers out of me and from beneath the sheets. I watched him as he brought those fingers to his mouth, sucking them clean. His eyes closed briefly. “Even more delicious than I thought.”

I swallowed. “Will you show me how to do that for you?” I was sure my cheeks were as red as a tomato, but I wanted to give him the same pleasure he had just given me.

He bent his head towards me, laying a soft kiss on my lips. “Soon. Tonight, was just for you.” Another soft kiss. “See if you can sleep now.”

I burrowed back into Austin, the length against by backside had gotten unbelievably harder and longer. He groaned, stilling my movements. I kissed the arm that had remained under my neck. “Love you, Austin,” I said softly and then fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

35

Austin

Iawoke to a dick so hard it could pound nails, and an empty bed. Neither of those things made me happy. I panicked for a moment when I didn’t see Carter or Blue, but then I smelled the scents of coffee and breakfast wafting from the other room and relaxed a little. She should have woken me.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and plodded into the kitchen. The sight that greeted me was pure heaven. Carter faced the stove, wearing my threadbare t-shirt, her delectable curves peeking out from beneath the fabric, and her legs seeming to go on for days. I searched for something else to focus my attention on and remembered waking up alone. “You didn’t wake me.” It came out a little harsher than I had intended. I blamed the pain in my cock.

Carter turned at the sound of my voice, spatula still in hand. “Someone’s grumpy this morning.”

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