“I had a really bad day,” she starts off, her voice softly washing over me. “And I’d really like to not think about it. I had intended to call you when I got home…ask you to come over, so imagine my surprise when I found you waiting here for me.”

She steps in toward me and the scent of orange blossoms fills the air. I imagine she has slathered her skin with some type of silky lotion that is now permeating the air around me, and my fingers literally itch to touch her.

She reaches toward the box I’m holding loosely in my hand and runs a fingertip gently across the glossy surface while she stares at it.

“I stopped at the store on the way home…picked these up. This isn’t something I would normally do,” she says softly and I hear some nervousness in her voice that is contradicting the surety of her words. “I think you know that about me and I hope you don’t think less of me. But I would just really, really like to not think about today and I would really, really like to take this to the next level with you.”

Lifting her eyes to meet mine, she takes a step in closer and my c**k gets harder yet. She practically purrs at me. “Are you going to help me forget about today, Alex?”

Yearning such as I have never felt before in my life flashes molten in my veins and I have the vicious urge to throw her to the floor and pound my way inside of her. She has no clue the monster that she’s awakened inside of me.

“Sutton,” I growl in warning, hoping (not really) that she’ll back away from me before I lose all semblance of control.

She pays me no mind and takes a last step toward me, the hand that was stroking the box of condoms now wrapping around my wrist. She pushes my arm away and mashes her br**sts into my body. A shudder of need rumbles through me and I close my eyes so I can’t see the plaintive look in her eyes.

But her voice still carries strong. “Please. Help me forget today.”

Releasing my pent-up breath slowly, I open my eyes and bring my free hand up to wrap around her waist. Pulling her in until my erection is pressing into her stomach, I look down at her. “You’re sure?”

Nodding her head, she says, “I’m sure. And don’t be soft and sweet with me. Really make me forget today.”

Chapter 16

Sutton

I know this boldness is stemming from the really crappy and stressful day I’ve had, but I know I want Alex more than I’ve ever wanted another man. He’s been taking his time with me because he wants to develop our “connection.”

Well, the connection is developed. Done. Complete.

I realized that the minute I pulled up to the curb by my house and saw both Brandon and Alex standing at the bottom of my porch. Immediate annoyance flashed through me when I saw Brandon.

But Alex?

An array of emotions and feelings overwhelmed me. Excitement, lust, tenderness, happiness, fear.

Yes, even the fear I felt caused my skin to tingle in a delicious way, because I knew that after tonight, things were going to change between us. I knew that the rash decision I had made to pick up some condoms on the way home was probably the best decision I had made in a while, but it didn’t stop me from being a little scared about trying to seduce Alex into my bed. This was a first for me and I hope I didn’t make a fool out of myself. I really hope I didn’t make a fool of myself because I have to admit I did like the power I held while making my desires known to Alex.

I truly wanted to forget the horrendous nature of today. Of watching Mara lying in a hospital bed, with pale skin and bruised shadows under her eyes. I hated seeing the self-loathing in her gaze when she first opened her eyes to look at me, just before turning her head away to stare blankly at the wall. I’m losing her…I can feel it, and I need something to scrub away the grit of hopelessness I’m feeling.

I need Alex.

His arm is strong and sure as he holds me pinned up against his body. I can feel his thickness hot against me, jerking every so often in anticipation of what’s coming. His eyes are dark as they stare down at me, and I feel a small measure of confident power that I created that look of need on his face right now.

Leaning his head down, his eyes search mine for a brief moment before he closes the gap and brushes his lips against mine. I sigh, not in contentment, but a bit in frustration because I want more…more than just the slight touch he’s giving me now.

Opening my mouth, I press in on him, slipping my tongue in his mouth. Alex drops the box of condoms to the floor and palms the back of my head. He holds me in place as we kiss, his mouth moving so softly against mine. His tongue moves in languid strokes, going ever so deliberately.

It causes me even greater frustration and I involuntarily grind against him to spur him on. It doesn’t work, though, because he just continues to kiss me with lazy abandon, not in a rush to go further.

Alex moves his lips from mine, skimming them across my jaw and down to my neck, causing my fingers to grab on to and curl tightly into the fabric of his shirt.

“Not like that,” I complain as I push against his chest, frustrated by the whisper-soft touches against my skin. I want—no, I need—more.

Laying a last kiss against my neck before pulling back, Alex looks down at me, his face deadly serious with question. “How, then?”

“Not soft. Rougher,” I whisper. “Faster. Just…more.”

The groan that seeps out of Alex as he comprehends what I’m saying causes all of my low-lying muscles to clench violently. I expect him to kiss me now with a ferociousness that matches the look that’s on his face at this moment. His teeth are gritted but his gaze is filled with boiling lust.