He reached over me to the nightstand and pulled a condom out of the drawer. His eyes were intense, shimmering with need, never leaving mine as he ripped open the package. Before he could put it on, I wrapped my hand around his shaft, stroking the length of it. There was a bead of pre-cum at the tip, and I spread it over the head. I was totally aroused again as I thought about having his hardness inside me, pumping in and out, bringing us to climax.
He paused with the condom between his fingers as he pushed his cock harder into my hand. His mouth found mine and ravaged it. I stroked harder and was rewarded with a moan that I swallowed, letting it reverberate through every fiber of my body.
“Hurry, now,” I urged, wanting all of him inside me.
He moved on his back and quickly rolled on the condom. His eyelids fluttered when I flipped on top of him, wiggling and inching down on his cock until I could take every last bit of him.
His hands were on my hips, guiding me up and down, helping me find the right rhythm, the right beat for us. I watched his hungry gaze devour my breasts, taking in every swing and bounce.
I held my breath, feeling like I was teetering at the top of the roller coaster. I let it out with a big woosh as I shot over the other side. Dan’s hands tightened on my hips, and I felt him shudder his release along with me. I was still quivering when I laid down on the length of him, his cock still inside me. I wanted to stay like that, never move, because if he withdrew, that would be the end of it.
He made a move to pull out, and I tensed. “Stay,” I pleaded.
He smiled at me tenderly and tucked a loose lock of hair behind my ear. I wasn’t sure how long we lay like that, but it felt so good.
“I want to get rid of this. I’ll be back in a sec,” he said, and I watched his tight, firm butt walk to the bathroom with the condom.
He climbed back on the bed and wrapped me in his arms. I snuggled in, and he kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry about the bowling. You’re right. I was being a huge asshole.”
“Jealous much?” I asked, lightly teasing him.
“No, and frankly, it caught me by surprise. I couldn’t handle you smiling at him and laughing at his jokes.”
I huffed, “If you’d bothered to really see with your eyes, you would have noticed I was laughing politely.”
“Why did you go out with him?”
“It wasn’t a date.”
“Yes, it was.”
“I thought it would be fun.”
Dan was going to retort, but I shushed him with a soft, gentle kiss. I stroked light circles with the tips of my fingers on his back, and we rested like that. Eventually, I heard his breath become slow and even as he fell asleep.
My mind became a blender full of hot turmoil. Knowing he had been jealous felt wonderful and horrible at the same time. I was screwing everything up again. I had wanted to tell him about the baby, but he distracted me. I couldn’t think straight when he did things to my body. But, damn, I should have tried harder.
I wanted to stay in his arms but slowly pulled away so I wouldn’t wake him. I put my clothes on in the bathroom and came over to look at his beautiful sleeping face one more time.
“Why did I go out with Cyrus?” I said quietly. I leaned down to kiss his cheek softly.
“Because he’s a safe bet. I won’t ever lose my heart to him,” I whispered.
- 22 -
Dan
Iwokeupinthe middle of the night and instantly realized Nicole wasn’t in bed with me. I glanced toward the bathroom, hopeful, but I sensed she wasn’t anywhere in the loft. She’d snuck out without saying goodbye.
I ran my hands through my hair until it was sticking up everywhere. Damn those walls of hers. Why was she denying us this?
I thought about it. It wasn’t just the physical attraction, although I couldn’t deny how fucking hot that was. I liked all of her smart, beautiful, sassy, funny self.
I knew for sure what I wanted now. This. Her. A chance for us. My chance to make her happy for the rest of her life. I realized I was in love with her. I hadn’t wanted to go there because I was afraid of messing it up. But maybe I was a wiser man now, one who’d learned his lessons.
I was in deep. And I wasn’t being vain, but I thought she felt something for me too. I considered the times I’d seen a flash of something more in her face.
So what was my plan? I would slowly chip away at her walls until she trusted me and came to me willingly. Or I’d die trying. I wanted to talk her into staying in Cooperstown. I wanted her to stay and be with me. I was fully committed, I realized.