23. Reed

Chapter twenty-three

Reed

Petra’s lips are soft and full. I’m not dreaming, because she’s still there when I open my eyes. She retreats quietly—the doe in the bath again. I cup the back of her neck to draw her closer, and it sparks something in her.

She throws herself into the kiss, and I love every moment of it. The slide, the nip, the push and pull of us finding a rhythm and moving together. She’s tasting herself on my lips, and damn if that doesn’t fan the fucking flames. She’s slick against the material of my pants as she slides her leg over mine and rocks into me.

“Petra,” I groan against her lips. Now that I’ve kissed her, I want to do it forever, but the pressure of her motions is nearly painful. “You can’t do that right now. Any other time and I’d love it, but—”

She nods, but kisses me again and again. She’s starving for them, and it makes me ache. “How do you feel about connect the dots now?”

All of me throbs so hard that I can’t breathe. “Not funny.”

“Not a joke,” she says, nipping my jaw. “Here, or in the shower?”

Her orgasm left her voice raspy, sultry, and I’m powerless to say no. But this is supposed to be about her. “You don’t have to—”

“Here, then,” she decides for me. Her hand dips below my waistband, and I suck in a harsh breath as her fingers wrap around my cock. She’s flushed, her swollen lips begging for more.

I oblige, and she melts against me with each kiss, until I need to bury myself inside her. Now. She breaks away with a pained sound, even though it’s me hanging out on the edge .

“I want to kiss you, but I want to see you. I need more eyes and more lips,” she complains. I crack a smirk, which she shuts down with a squeeze that makes me see stars. I shudder against her as pleasure rockets through me. So damn good. “ Don’t say it . You haven’t been an ass in an hour, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

If that’s her response, it’s more incentive than deterrent. “So bossy, Pet. Where’s that giggling girl now?”

“She’s remembering what possibilities feel like.” There’s a new confidence in her that’s beautiful to see.

“I’m proud of you,” I say against her mouth, but don’t let the kiss linger. I force her hand away so I can stand. I strip down and sit against the headboard, guiding her to straddle my legs. She frowns at me, but doesn’t shy away. “Not sex,” I explain. “Giving you more eyes and more lips. And more dots.”

She nods and settles over me. She takes my cock in her hand and moans, as though she’s the one about to get off on this and not me.

“You’re so beautiful, Reed. Help me,” she begs, guiding my hand between her thighs as she leans in for another kiss. I’ve never been called beautiful before, but from her lips it’s whispered as a compliment and a prayer.

I waste no time, because I’m not going to last long and want her to come with me. When I flick against her clit and dive into her with two fingers, she gasps against my mouth, drawing my breath into her lungs.

It’s the best sound I’ve ever fucking heard.

Her satin palm explores the length of me, and it’s effortless to imagine sinking inside her tight, dripping, little pussy. My blood pounds in my ears. I need her as close to the edge as I am.

I’ve got a terrible angle, but I thrust my fingers into her with a speed that hopefully makes up for my lack of grace. Instead of seeking her own orgasm, she retreats. She pulls my hand away from her so that we’re both gripping my cock, her release slicking the way for us. Her gaze focuses on the rhythm of our hands, and she licks her lip as if she’s imagining the taste of us together .

“I love the way it shines,” she says with a breathy little sigh. I don’t even know if it was meant for me, but fuck, her words bounce around inside my brain, flipping on switches I didn’t know were there. My skin buzzes again, but this time in anticipation. In celebration.

I guide her rhythm, and she catches on fast. She squeezes right where I’m most sensitive, and lightning crackles across my skin. Everything draws up tight, clenching so hard I can’t find my breath. “Jesus, baby.”

“Only me here,” she quips. “No communion wine, but I think I’m drunk on you. Or I’d like to be. Do you like it when women swallow, or do you like to see it first?” Petra licks her lips as she watches my cock slip through her fist. “It’s a shame I already promised you my chest.”

Her eagerness will be the death of me.

I yank her forward to kiss her. I’m too rough, fast, and needy. I drink from her lips, my fingers digging into the swell of her ass and grinding her against my thigh. I can’t slow down for her. I need this, need her, more than anything. “I like it all, you vixen. Your tits, your ass, your throat. Wherever you want it, consider this a blanket consent.”

She nods against my mouth and swipes a thumb over the head of my cock, over the sensitive ridge underneath. “Keep your promise,” she demands. “I want to be just as glossy as you.”

Jesus. I know exactly what she means—I don’t have enough eyes or lips. I can’t stop kissing her, but I need to watch. Petra leans back until I have no choice in the matter. She smirks, pride and lust glinting in her doe eyes, and damn it, it’s so sexy on her. I help her squeeze and release. She’s fucking fluttering where I need it the most.

My heart slams against my ribs in warning before heat races down my spine, searing everything in its path.

“Paint me,” she murmurs, and it’s my undoing. My release comes in a surging ribbon of tension and release. It’s a solar flare that floods my system from head to heel. My eyes drift shut, but I force them open as I come in spurts across her breasts, her stomach, her hip. I gloss over creamy skin and dark freckles that fade from view as I coat them.

I’m still spiraling when she takes one finger and smears it across her skin.

“Fucking, fuck, Petra, stop —don’t stop—fuck.”

My head pounds, on the verge of exploding, and I clutch her shoulders for balance. I press my forehead to her neck to catch my breath while she eases me back down from the high.

“Pet.”

Eyes closed tight, I breathe in the cardamom, orange, vanilla, and sex on her skin. I muster my strength and press her back to lie on the bed, because hell if I’m going to miss this opportunity. She’s perfect, splayed out beneath me. Smiling, eyes bright, lips red and tender, chest covered.

“ Paint me. Jesus, Petra. Just as glossy? Where did that come from? That was more obscene than anything I’ve said in my goddamn life.”

She’s put the idea in my head, and I can’t fight the urge to spread it from mark to mark. There are sixteen from between her breasts down to her hip, and even more above and below. I make sure to hit each one, and her giggles start up again as she shakes under my hand.

“I’ve heard you say much worse. Having fun?” She shakes harder as she belly laughs, and it breaks my concentration. I don’t care that we’re hot and sweaty and she’s sticky. I press us together and capture her mouth again, gentler than before.

“Shouldn’t have been so rough with you, baby.” I lay my apology at her mouth with kisses. “Not for your first experience.”

She smiles as she runs her hands through my hair. “First in a while, Reed. I don’t mind rough. You asked me my favorites? Sometimes it’s Comfort , talking, kissing and lingering touches. But sometimes,” her voice softens to a husky murmur in my ear. “Sometimes it’s Surrender , when I’m flipped on my stomach and taken hard, for your pleasure and not mine. Your hand between my shoulder blades, pushing me down into the sheets. So that little bit of rough you gave me? I took it as a promise.”

Fuuuuuck. Everything outside of her is just noise. My hands tighten in her hair. I kiss her again, hungry for her, wishing I could devour this moment. I’m quickly losing control. “My hand over your shoulder,” I demand against her lips. “Not your spine. Safer that way.”

“I’m open to change.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.” She groans. “No. Maybe.”

“That’s a no, then, Pet.” Though I want her, I grip tightly to my control and slow us down. We lay together, kissing and stroking until the stickiness between us becomes uncomfortable.

Petra must read my mind, because she pushes me away. “Can we make out in the shower?”

I nod as I stand up and tug her to follow. “That totally counts as flirting.”

She laughs as I turn on the water. “I’m not sure you’ve ever been flirted with, if that’s your definition.”

“Maybe it’s your version of flirting that’s my favorite, darling,” I tease, stepping into the tub and pulling her in to kiss her under the spray. She’s soft everywhere, and I want to do this for hours.

Days.

Weeks.

We share a bar of soap, learning each other’s bodies. Her hands are everywhere—slick, teasing, and warm. Though I want her again, I refuse to push her. Instead, we dry off and climb naked under the covers.

I wrap her in my arms, and though we talk, we also trade kisses. Short, long, gentle, harsh, fast, slow—all sorts of kisses that leave us both wanting. If we were dating, I’d turn it into more.

We’re not, and she’s unsure, so I suffer quietly until she’s drifting off. When she’s more full of silence than words, I turn off the light.

“Reed?” Her tone is wary in the dark. “Don’t—I’m not on the pill, so if you—in the middle of the night—”

I squeeze her in reassurance. “I’m not going to do anything without your awake consent, Pet. Promise.”

“Thank you.” She relaxes and rests her head against my chest, her breath already slowing.

But I’m wide awake and far from aroused. Why does it sound like someone’s done that to her before? My skin crawls as my own experience bubbles to the surface. I tuck her tighter against me—as if her warmth can offset the sudden chill—and smooth my hands over her back. Each of Petra’s curves is soft and sweet, a reminder of where I am and who I’m with. The orange and spice and me on her skin is grounding, and it brings me out of the shadows and back into the present.

Back to Petra and the things she left unsaid.